R5 P148: Noah Sewell, LB - Oregon

[G08]

Watching his 2021 highlights... not sure how this kid ended up in round 5.

Was he that bad in 2022?

[thunderspirit]

Watching his 2021 highlights... not sure how this kid ended up in round 5.

Was he that bad in 2022?

He looked like a very different player most of last season, yeah.

[Moriarty]

Glad we got the lesser Sewell to go with our lesser St. Brown. Does Jaire Alexander have a less talented brother we could slot in as a 5th string safety?

We just got Dane Cruikshank's less talented little brother as a UDFA


Missed out on PJ Mustipher, though

[Grizzled]

From The Athletic, a comparison of the RAS' for Nolan Smith and Sewell. Apparently Sewell is considered somewhat less explosive. Also, his sideline-to-sideline speed is considered very strong, which is probably why he'll mainly be used as a LB and not a DE:

[G08]

First player is Noah Sewell.

Can you guess who the second player is?

Player 1
6014
246
31 5/8" arms
10" hands
1.56/2.68/4.64
27 reps 225
33" vert
9'7" broad
4.37 short shuttle
7.28 cone

Player 2
6005
242
31" arms
9.5" hands
1.66/2.76/4.75
25 reps 225
33" vert
9'5" broad
no short shuttle or cone listed

[TheWorldBreaker]

First player is Noah Sewell.

Can you guess who the second player is?

Player 1
6014
246
31 5/8" arms
10" hands
1.56/2.68/4.64
27 reps 225
33" vert
9'7" broad
4.37 short shuttle
7.28 cone

Player 2
6005
242
31" arms
9.5" hands
1.66/2.76/4.75
25 reps 225
33" vert
9'5" broad
no short shuttle or cone listed

I think Roquan was 6’0, so I’m guessing him.

[G08]

First player is Noah Sewell.

Can you guess who the second player is?

Player 1
6014
246
31 5/8" arms
10" hands
1.56/2.68/4.64
27 reps 225
33" vert
9'7" broad
4.37 short shuttle
7.28 cone

Player 2
6005
242
31" arms
9.5" hands
1.66/2.76/4.75
25 reps 225
33" vert
9'5" broad
no short shuttle or cone listed

I think Roquan was 6’0, so I’m guessing him.

Nope

[thunderspirit]

Lance Briggs.

[EricTighe]

Not sure where the lack of instincts is coming from. Obviously people never watched Oregon play.

His numbers went down this year due to the fact they used him to blitz more and to take out lead blockers when ran against. He is a faster version of TJ Edwards. Since Edwards signed a 3 year deal I can see Sewell taking his spot in three years.

He is a thumper plain and simple. When he hits people drop. His instincts in 2021 were considered off the charts when he played a more traditional MLB role of reading and reacting. This last for some reason that no one has ever explained they asked him to do different things that made his stats go down. Which he did for the betterment of the team.

This was a steal for us.

[karhu]

Not sure where the lack of instincts is coming from. Obviously people never watched Oregon play.

His numbers went down this year due to the fact they used him to blitz more and to take out lead blockers when ran against. He is a faster version of TJ Edwards. Since Edwards signed a 3 year deal I can see Sewell taking his spot in three years.

He is a thumper plain and simple. When he hits people drop. His instincts in 2021 were considered off the charts when he played a more traditional MLB role of reading and reacting. This last for some reason that no one has ever explained they asked him to do different things that made his stats go down. Which he did for the betterment of the team.

This was a steal for us.

Here's hoping you're right, but he seemed to take himself out of plays an awful lot last year by getting tied up with his first read and not disengaging when the play went elsewhere. Sometimes it almost seemed like teams were running guys at him as distractions. That's my big reason for questioning his instincts: kind of like Fields at the start of last season, you knew he could make plays, but he just seemed way too far into his head.

[thunderspirit]

Last season, Sewell was Not Good. Whether that was the Oregon defensive scheme change or closer to the player he actually is remains to be seen.

[G08]

Lance Briggs.

Nailed it!

[AZ_Bearfan]

[G08]

I think we are trying to emulate the Buffalo Bills defense from the past 6 seasons.

Anyone who is bored or interested, watch highlights of Matt Milano and tell me Noah Sewell can't play that role well.

[IE]

I think we are trying to emulate the Buffalo Bills defense from the past 6 seasons.

Anyone who is bored or interested, watch highlights of Matt Milano and tell me Noah Sewell can't play that role well.

That would make sense, as it has been Frazier's defense and his defense is T2 roots - a lot like Lovie's T2 wtih Chico's Jim Johnson Philly aggression. Very similar.

I was kind of excited about Sewell but at the end of that video a few posts up I got sort of bummed. I don't have a good feeling about it - the way he had a bad season & declared early saying it was his dream and sort of implying he'd earned it. It is almost like he realizes he may have peaked in college and just making sure he gets his payday. Weird vibe IMO. I wonder how surprised he was at going so late, for a guy who a year ago was considered a potential 1st rounder.

There has been a lot of talk re: Sewell easily taking Sanborn's SAM job but I don't know. Sewell's story peaked in college, and Sanborn's is a much better story. The story on Sewell seems like he had/has all the physical gifts but never developed parts of his game such as being a pass defender and sort of rested on his laurels as a superior athlete. Sanborn, OTOH doesn't have all the physical gifts but has surprised with his play through try-hard... a guy born for HITs. Similar to TJ Edwards, who like Sanborn is "meh" athletically but is a damn good football player. In the NFL my money is on a true motor guy like Sanborn over a guy like Sewell who *may* be a little entitled. Clip & save, I guess.

[G08]

I think he was used differently last season but that would be a question for @Yogi da Bear

[HisRoyalSweetness]

All those high-school clips show a guy who is simply a lot bigger, stronger and more aggressive and athletic than anyone around him. I haven't checked out any college footage, but he obviously isn't going to have that sort of dominance in the NFL. The question is whether he actually has the necessary skills to be a quality player at the elite level or whether he can learn them. Was his drop in production in his final year in college a sign he hasn't developed done that to date, having always relied on his physicality, and opponents figured out how to exploit that?

I can understand why, as a former first round prospect, Poles drafted him where he did. If he takes to coaching then he could prove to be a steal. If he doesn't then he'll probably bounce around the league for a few years playing primarily on special teams and be done.

[The Marshall Plan]

All those high-school clips show a guy who is simply a lot bigger, stronger and more aggressive and athletic than anyone around him. I haven't checked out any college footage, but he obviously isn't going to have that sort of dominance in the NFL. The question is whether he actually has the necessary skills to be a quality player at the elite level or whether he can learn them. Was his drop in production in his final year in college a sign he hasn't developed done that to date, having always relied on his physicality, and opponents figured out how to exploit that?

I can understand why, as a former first round prospect, Poles drafted him where he did. If he takes to coaching then he could prove to be a steal. If he doesn't then he'll probably bounce around the league for a few years playing primarily on special teams and be done.

Sewell is my Dark Horse draft pick to succeed. I think he's a guy, that when he takes the field with both Edwards and Edmunds, is going to benefit from playing alongside superior talent. Then if by some miracle the DL is actually competent then lookout.

[HisRoyalSweetness]

I like the way he flies around and hits. I wasn't impressed with the way he lunges into tackles, leaves his feet and doesn't wrap up. Do that in the NFL and more often than not opponents will bounce off or run right over you. That's high school though. Hopefully his technique has improved since then and will do so further under the Bears coaches.

[wab]

All those high-school clips show a guy who is simply a lot bigger, stronger and more aggressive and athletic than anyone around him. I haven't checked out any college footage, but he obviously isn't going to have that sort of dominance in the NFL. The question is whether he actually has the necessary skills to be a quality player at the elite level or whether he can learn them. Was his drop in production in his final year in college a sign he hasn't developed done that to date, having always relied on his physicality, and opponents figured out how to exploit that?

I can understand why, as a former first round prospect, Poles drafted him where he did. If he takes to coaching then he could prove to be a steal. If he doesn't then he'll probably bounce around the league for a few years playing primarily on special teams and be done.

Sewell is my Dark Horse draft pick to succeed. I think he's a guy, that when he takes the field with both Edwards and Edmunds, is going to benefit from playing alongside superior talent. Then if by some miracle the DL is actually competent then lookout.

He has to beat out future HOF talent Jack Sanborn first...

[thunderspirit]

Sewell is my Dark Horse draft pick to succeed. I think he's a guy, that when he takes the field with both Edwards and Edmunds, is going to benefit from playing alongside superior talent. Then if by some miracle the DL is actually competent then lookout.

He has to beat out future HOF talent Jack Sanborn first...

[docc]

We do have Chase & Sanborn on the team..
So we got that working for us/

[Moriarty]

I found this pick absolutely inexplicable at the time.

You've got 2 pricey hand-picked starters just beginning their contracts. Then you've got a Sanborn, who's quite good for a backup. And Cole was specifically brought in to be the Special Teams Ace.

Profiles say he's a big run-stuffer, who blitzes well, but isn't good in coverage. Played MLB at Oregon.

What role could they possibly be aiming for?

He's not a MLB in this scheme if he's bad in coverage.
STer is already covered. And even if, for some ridiculous reason you felt like you needed 2/5 to focus on that, that's what R7 is for, not early 5.
I don't see them blitzing him a lot. He can't play 43 base DE. Maybe you can rush him in nickel, but he's kinda small even for that.
Maybe he's supposed to take over WLB in 2 yrs?

It feels like they just decided "he's too good to last this long, even if he's not a great need/fit".
I'm unsure about that approach.


(In minicamps, he's getting raves on his coverage. Maybe the profiles were wrong. That would certainly change things.)

[wab]

So what I'm gathering is that you don't like this draft....

[HisRoyalSweetness]

It feels like they just decided "he's too good to last this long, even if he's not a great need/fit".
I'm unsure about that approach.

The chances of landing a decent player in R5 is pretty low, so it makes all the sense in the world to select the best player on your board regardless of need/fit.

[Moriarty]

So what I'm gathering is that you don't like this draft....

Wasn't intended that way and still doesn't read that way to me.


Granted, there's always a large percentage who will fanboy over every draft, and, relative to that, these would be negative (how could you not be, in comparison?).
But, taken at their face, I think what I'm saying in totality would be best described as "cautious & mixed".

[The Marshall Plan]

So what I'm gathering is that you don't like this draft....

Wasn't intended that way and still doesn't read that way to me.


Granted, there's always a large percentage who will fanboy over every draft, and, relative to that, these would be negative (how could you not be, in comparison?).
But, taken at their face, I think what I'm saying in totality would be best described as "cautious & mixed".

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm going to assume (lol yes we know what that does) that the critique of the draft is because of the merits of the players themselves and not the overall structure where Poles took the #1 overall and turned it into a treasure trove. Or do you feel there could've been improvement upon the yield for the #1?

1) Wright: To me this is a solid no brainer of a draft choice. Then we also got a fourth rounder for free to move down 1 spot. A+
2) Dexter: Debatable. Could've gone C or DE.
3) Stevenson: The trade up seems a bit nonsensical and out of character given the posture going into the draft of needing picks. There's an opportunity cost of C or DE which were more urgent needs. This pick "cost" us the most between the trade up and the opportunity cost.
4) Pickens: Given that we already took Dexter and ignored C and DE I don't understand this one.
5) Johnson: I was all about Bijan Robinson at 9 and to me it seems strange that we drafted a guy who wasn't even the best back on his own team. He's a Bear now and I hope he gets into the HOF.
6) Scott: I love this pick. Very excited about getting a burner WR. A+
7) Sewell: Great chance that this is a strong value pick. He'll benefit from playing with superior LB teammates. I like the pick and I start to lose interest in OL at this point in the draft.
8) Smith: No real opinion here.

The remainder are typical low round, roster filler, let's hope something sticks here, kind of picks.

Forgetting the trade down, which I think was done extremely well, there are some head scratching moments in here.

[thunderspirit]

So what I'm gathering is that you don't like this draft....

Every single draft, every single coach, every single free agent.

It's the Mori way.

[wab]

So what I'm gathering is that you don't like this draft....

Every single draft, every single coach, every single free agent.

It's the Mori way.

Sounds exhausting

[UOK]

I think it's a pretty standard phase of dealing with a team that loses more often than not and hasn't won a title in almost 40 years.