R4 P122: Tory Taylor, P - Iowa

[Bearfacts]

Should we change the title of this to "The Post Draft Remorse Thread"?

Should we start a list of all those players we could've drafted instead and what they might have contributed?

[UOK]

Should we change the title of this to "The Post Draft Remorse Thread"?

Should we start a list of all those players we could've drafted instead and what they might have contributed?

Feel free to start one if you want.

[Bears Whiskey Nut]

This whole punter thing is crazy.

There have to be enough FA punters to block out the sky.

Or get somebody from a soccer league.

I do not understand the fascination with people cheering us drafting a punter in the fourth round.

I mean OK, a good punter is worth an extra X in field position. I agree with that but do you need a fourth rounder to achieve that? IDK.

To me Super Duper Offense is the priority. The defense should be top half of the league without a problem. Now add the ability to drop 30 on anybody. That’s a hard combo to beat.

I don’t know who I would’ve drafted instead but a punter seems a touch much especially given the need on DL.

I went back and looked. Tanor Bortolini and Mason McCormick went a few picks earlier. Cade Stover went the pick afterwards. Then like 8 RBs went to close out the 4th round. SVP went at the top of R5.

Honestly the player I would have taken instead of Taylor was Austin Booker. I suppose one of Sedrick Van Pran/Cade Stover plus still being able to get Booker would have been a smidge better, but there were no DTs taken after Taylor for the rest of the draft that I had much of an interest in. Maybe Gabe Hall.

So...I really have zero complaints. about how it all worked out.

I think we're going to get half way through the season and everyone to a man will be delighted that we took Taylor in the 4th.

[HurricaneBear]

I went back and looked. Tanor Bortolini and Mason McCormick went a few picks earlier. Cade Stover went the pick afterwards. Then like 8 RBs went to close out the 4th round. SVP went at the top of R5.

Honestly the player I would have taken instead of Taylor was Austin Booker. I suppose one of Sedrick Van Pran/Cade Stover plus still being able to get Booker would have been a smidge better, but there were no DTs taken after Taylor for the rest of the draft that I had much of an interest in. Maybe Gabe Hall.

So...I really have zero complaints. about how it all worked out.

I think we're going to get half way through the season and everyone to a man will be delighted that we took Taylor in the 4th.

I hope you are right! I want to cheer for the Crocodile Punter.

Someone mentioned him doing kickoffs potentially. I don't know how legit of an idea that is but if it can be done I'd like to see him do that also.

[Bears Whiskey Nut]

I think we're going to get half way through the season and everyone to a man will be delighted that we took Taylor in the 4th.

I hope you are right! I want to cheer for the Crocodile Punter.

Someone mentioned him doing kickoffs potentially. I don't know how legit of an idea that is but if it can be done I'd like to see him do that also.

Kick-offs will be a total non-factor this year with the new rules.

[HurricaneBear]

I hope you are right! I want to cheer for the Crocodile Punter.

Someone mentioned him doing kickoffs potentially. I don't know how legit of an idea that is but if it can be done I'd like to see him do that also.

Kick-offs will be a total non-factor this year with the new rules.

I thought the whole point of the new rules was to make the play more than just a touchback everytime?

[UOK]

Kick-offs will be a total non-factor this year with the new rules.

I thought the whole point of the new rules was to make the play more than just a touchback everytime?

Indeed. I don't see how the new rules are going to be touchbacks all the time.

[HisRoyalSweetness]

And in a shock move...

[Yogi da Bear]

During a Wednesday interview on the Pat McAfee Show, Poles explained why he selected Taylor at No. 122.

“I didn’t expect him to get much further. Definitely didn’t think I’d be able to pick him up when we got into the fifth round,” Poles said. “And, really, the thought process there is to make anyone we’re playing really uncomfortable. I didn’t play much in the NFL but I know running onto the field and having the ball spotted inside the 10-yard line is a very uncomfortable feeling. It’s disheartening at times. And I love taking advantage of field position. And, really, that should help us with points as well.

“So, I think it’s going to add to our team and make it uncomfortable and difficult for any team we’re going against.”

People are acting like this never happens. Since 2000, eleven punters have been taken in the fourth round or higher, including three in the third. That's a little over 45% of the drafts. And four have been taken in the fourth in the last five years. So it's not that unusual.

And quite frankly, if Poles had gone for Booker in the fourth, I don't think he could have traded for Taylor in the fifth. Kansas City lost their punter and just signed Araiza, who hasn't punted in over two years. Buffalo's punter was 29th in net last year. Detroit's was 23rd, and Green Bay's was 31st. Minnesota's was 18th in net but just above Gill in inside the 20 at 29. Both Detroit and KC had two picks in the late fourth after our selection, and Buffalo had one in the fourth and another in the fifth before the selection that they owned that we traded for. Green Bay, meanwhile, had two later fifths that they could have used to move up for Taylor.

When you then consider that Taylor was the only punter even drafted at all, you know there really was no other choice but him if you wanted a punter. I think Poles is absolutely right when he says that he didn't expect Taylor to go much further. And the way he did it, he was able to get his punter AND the Edge that he'd obviously been targeting. If he did it the other way around, I don't think he would have got Taylor. Smart move on his part.

[The Marshall Plan]

Do we all still trust Ryan Poles or is this punter pick in the 4th round of a pretty weak back half 2024 draft what puts us over the edge?

I look at it like he drafted Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze along with "drafting" Montez Sweat and Keenan Allen.

He can take a punter in the 4th.

[Yogi da Bear]

Do we all still trust Ryan Poles or is this punter pick in the 4th round of a pretty weak back half 2024 draft what puts us over the edge?

I look at it like he drafted Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze along with "drafting" Montez Sweat and Keenan Allen.

He can take a punter in the 4th.

And Bates. Don't forget Bates.

You're looking at a possible six starters as a direct result of this one draft.

[dave99]

At this point if Poles had drafted another QB in the forth I wouldn't questioned it.
It just so hard to get used to a Bears GM that is really good at his job.
But I happy to keep working at it.

[Rusty Trombagent]

Should we change the title of this to "The Post Draft Remorse Thread"?

Should we start a list of all those players we could've drafted instead and what they might have contributed?

Feel free to start one if you want.

viewtopic.php?t=18126

[Grizzled]

The Bears just cut Gill.

[Bears Whiskey Nut]

And in a shock move...

[Johnny Bollocks]

I know you mean this in a super positive way, but when I read posts like this my initial reaction always is "God damnit why do my fellow Bears fans love 7-3 games so fucking much?!?!?"

When I was 16 I once played in a game that we lost 2-0. I played corner at the time, I was super pissed that the O lost the game for us by taking a safety.

[HisRoyalSweetness]

When I was 16 I once played in a game that we lost 2-0. I played corner at the time, I was super pissed that the O lost the game for us by taking a safety.

I played in a game which we lost 3-0. We'd hammered them at their place a couple of weeks before, but they'd worked out our audible system and knew exactly what we were doing on every offensive play and our coaches never adjusted. We got it sorted for the next game but why they didn't do anything at the time was, in hindsight, incomprehensible.

Bear in mind this was youth football in the UK and many years ago. Our team had only been formed the year before. In 3 seasons this team was the only one I ever saw even attempt a kick. Teams always opted for 2pt conversions rather than PATs and attempting a FG was absolutely unheard of. When it went through from 36 yards they celebrated like they'd won the Super Bowl. I wouldn't be surprised if that was their first successful attempt ever or even simply their first attempt.

We were gutted to lose to a team we'd had so much fun wiping the floor with previously especially in such a fashion. Even my one and only mention in the local paper for playing "a pivotal role" at ILB was no compensation.

[Bearfacts]

Should we change the title of this to "The Post Draft Remorse Thread"?

Should we start a list of all those players we could've drafted instead and what they might have contributed?

Feel free to start one if you want.

[southdakbearfan]

I hope you are right! I want to cheer for the Crocodile Punter.

Someone mentioned him doing kickoffs potentially. I don't know how legit of an idea that is but if it can be done I'd like to see him do that also.

Kick-offs will be a total non-factor this year with the new rules.

I think it’s actually going to be the opposite. Much higher number of returns with the new rules.

[thunderspirit]

This whole punter thing is crazy.

There have to be enough FA punters to block out the sky.

Or get somebody from a soccer league.

I do not understand the fascination with people cheering us drafting a punter in the fourth round.

I mean OK, a good punter is worth an extra X in field position. I agree with that but do you need a fourth rounder to achieve that? IDK.

To me Super Duper Offense is the priority. The defense should be top half of the league without a problem. Now add the ability to drop 30 on anybody. That’s a hard combo to beat.

I don’t know who I would’ve drafted instead but a punter seems a touch much especially given the need on DL.

I went back and looked. Tanor Bortolini and Mason McCormick went a few picks earlier. Cade Stover went the pick afterwards. Then like 8 RBs went to close out the 4th round. SVP went at the top of R5.

Honestly the player I would have taken instead of Taylor was Austin Booker. I suppose one of Sedrick Van Pran/Cade Stover plus still being able to get Booker would have been a smidge better, but there were no DTs taken after Taylor for the rest of the draft that I had much of an interest in. Maybe Gabe Hall.

So...I really have zero complaints. about how it all worked out.

I have never advocated drafting kickers or punters. Ever.

If you're going to draft one, he better be really, really good. And Taylor just might be. Maybe he's the exception to what has been my iron-clad rule.

In a draft where Poles landed the draft's top QB and my favorite receiver prospect, I can't really bring myself to complain.

[Hema2.0]

Do we all still trust Ryan Poles or is this punter pick in the 4th round of a pretty weak back half 2024 draft what puts us over the edge?

I look at it like he drafted Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze along with "drafting" Montez Sweat and Keenan Allen.

He can take a punter in the 4th.

Thank you. If anybody here cannot name the last five 4th rounders drafted without googling, is it really worth over scrutinizing this pick. I know I can't. It just seems silly to me.

[BearsFanInMN]

I went back and looked. Tanor Bortolini and Mason McCormick went a few picks earlier. Cade Stover went the pick afterwards. Then like 8 RBs went to close out the 4th round. SVP went at the top of R5.

Honestly the player I would have taken instead of Taylor was Austin Booker. I suppose one of Sedrick Van Pran/Cade Stover plus still being able to get Booker would have been a smidge better, but there were no DTs taken after Taylor for the rest of the draft that I had much of an interest in. Maybe Gabe Hall.

So...I really have zero complaints. about how it all worked out.

I have never advocated drafting kickers or punters. Ever.

If you're going to draft one, he better be really, really good. And Taylor just might be. Maybe he's the exception to what has been my iron-clad rule.

In a draft where Poles landed the draft's top QB and my favorite receiver prospect, I can't really bring myself to complain.

Agreed. Plus he got the guy I wanted at 75 in the 5th, I don’t want to get excited about a punter but 4th is when you grab someone who might be a ST stand out at worst and he will be.

[HisRoyalSweetness]

Thank you. If anybody here cannot name the last five 4th rounders drafted without googling, is it really worth over scrutinizing this pick. I know I can't. It just seems silly to me.

Well Poles took Tyler Scott and Roschon Johnson in R4 last year. At best Scott's going to be WR4 now and Johnson probably RB3, maybe RB2b given his advantage over Herbert on passing downs both as a blocker and receiver.

Prior to that have the Bears had any R4 picks in a while? Poles traded down after selecting Jones Jr in R3 and took Braxton Jones in R5 followed by a bunch of other OL. I can't recall Pace having many R4 picks after hitting on Eddie Jackson and Tarik Cohen. Kwiatkoski was the year before wasn't he? I'm sure there must have been another after Jackson and Cohen but without looking it up I can't for the life of me think who. Presumably someone who didn't amount to anything.

So the long and the short of it is you can find decent contributors in R4, even occasionally one who makes a Pro Bowl or two. Ultimately any player you get on Day 3 who can contribute is a good pick regardless of position. Anything more is a bonus.

[LacertineForest]

I look at it like Poles made 5 selections and 3 of them will be starting immediately. Unless they really missed on him, he could be the Bears' starting punter for the next 10 years.

[Hema2.0]

Thank you. If anybody here cannot name the last five 4th rounders drafted without googling, is it really worth over scrutinizing this pick. I know I can't. It just seems silly to me.

Well Poles took Tyler Scott and Roschon Johnson in R4 last year. At best Scott's going to be WR4 now and Johnson probably RB3, maybe RB2b given his advantage over Herbert on passing downs both as a blocker and receiver.

Prior to that have the Bears had any R4 picks in a while? Poles traded down after selecting Jones Jr in R3 and took Braxton Jones in R5 followed by a bunch of other OL. I can't recall Pace having many R4 picks after hitting on Eddie Jackson and Tarik Cohen. Kwiatkoski was the year before wasn't he? I'm sure there must have been another after Jackson and Cohen but without looking it up I can't for the life of me think who. Presumably someone who didn't amount to anything.

So the long and the short of it is you can find decent contributors in R4, even occasionally one who makes a Pro Bowl or two. Ultimately any player you get on Day 3 who can contribute is a good pick regardless of position. Anything more is a bonus.

I'm guessing Poles believes this punter will be in the "anything more is a bonus" portion of your statement. Well done on the pick history too. I guess when the guy flips the roster like he has and nails the early picks, late round picks are all that's left to question.

[Shadow]

I know you mean this in a super positive way, but when I read posts like this my initial reaction always is "God damnit why do my fellow Bears fans love 7-3 games so fucking much?!?!?"

I see more and more coming around to my life long dream of Super Duper Offense. My brother in arms @The Marshall Plan was one of the first to speak up(and coin the phrase) I am eagerly awaiting everyone to come aboard the train(if anyone is older than me and has dreamed longer of this then, respect)

Beecause winning shoot outs(or losing them) is alot more fun to watch then defensive struggles(imo). I want to celebrate passing records and touchdowns with my Bears family. I want to see an offense better than the Alshon. Bmarsh, Black Unicorn trio. Not punts being downed inside the 5. The punts should be a very occasional snack, not the main course.

I loved me some fucking Brad Maynard. I shouldn't have had to love him so much. Offensive ineptitude has ruined a lifetime of Fandom. We are the only team to not have a 4000 yard passer or 30 TD guy. Our receiving record could be broke on a rookie contract. I haven't looked up Cutler's records but it wouldn't shock me if Caleb could break all of those on his rookie deal. It's beyond pathetic.

BUT I've waited this long. I can wait one more season for this train to fill up. Enjoy your punter while you think we still need it. I'm hoping he turns out to be top 5, and everyone thinks he's the best ever because he needs to punt so few times whatever flaws he is sure to have are never exposed

This whole punter thing is crazy.

There have to be enough FA punters to block out the sky.

Or get somebody from a soccer league.

I do not understand the fascination with people cheering us drafting a punter in the fourth round.

I mean OK, a good punter is worth an extra X in field position. I agree with that but do you need a fourth rounder to achieve that? IDK.

To me Super Duper Offense is the priority. The defense should be top half of the league without a problem. Now add the ability to drop 30 on anybody. That’s a hard combo to beat.

I don’t know who I would’ve drafted instead but a punter seems a touch much especially given the need on DL.

You may change your mind when you watch Jordan Love start all the Packer drives from their own 2 yard line.

[Grizzled]

When I was 16 I once played in a game that we lost 2-0. I played corner at the time, I was super pissed that the O lost the game for us by taking a safety.

I played in a game which we lost 3-0. We'd hammered them at their place a couple of weeks before, but they'd worked out our audible system and knew exactly what we were doing on every offensive play and our coaches never adjusted. We got it sorted for the next game but why they didn't do anything at the time was, in hindsight, incomprehensible.

Bear in mind this was youth football in the UK and many years ago. Our team had only been formed the year before. In 3 seasons this team was the only one I ever saw even attempt a kick. Teams always opted for 2pt conversions rather than PATs and attempting a FG was absolutely unheard of. When it went through from 36 yards they celebrated like they'd won the Super Bowl. I wouldn't be surprised if that was their first successful attempt ever or even simply their first attempt.

We were gutted to lose to a team we'd had so much fun wiping the floor with previously especially in such a fashion. Even my one and only mention in the local paper for playing "a pivotal role" at ILB was no compensation.

I was at the game in which Sweetness set the then single game rushing record and I can tell you, it sucked. Except for him. Neither the Bears nor Viqueens did a thing offensively except for Walter.

[malk]

I think another way to look at this, weirdly, is as part of the context for Caleb's development. The team looks really good right now: the defence trending nicely; hopefully shored up offensive line; mouth watering weapons of offence... But Caleb is still a rookie QB and that's a tough gig. If Taylor gives us the best bang for buck from a 4th rounder in just 2024 alone then it's worth it for me. I think we're a playoff team already but if he gives us a few more points over the course of the season, gives us a few more offensive drives for live "practice" for Caleb, that's massive.

Without counting any chickens, my expectations are sky high right now. I want the same kind of success that the Steelers got when they drafted Roethlisberger. Ok the defence isn't that good but Moore, Allen and Odunze are better than Hines, Burress and Randle El. Give me a playoff win in Caleb's rookie year and a ring in year 2 god damnit!

If a punter is a marginal gain towards that, sign me up.

[HurricaneBear]

This whole punter thing is crazy.

There have to be enough FA punters to block out the sky.

Or get somebody from a soccer league.

I do not understand the fascination with people cheering us drafting a punter in the fourth round.

I mean OK, a good punter is worth an extra X in field position. I agree with that but do you need a fourth rounder to achieve that? IDK.

To me Super Duper Offense is the priority. The defense should be top half of the league without a problem. Now add the ability to drop 30 on anybody. That’s a hard combo to beat.

I don’t know who I would’ve drafted instead but a punter seems a touch much especially given the need on DL.

You may change your mind when you watch Jordan Love start all the Packer drives from their own 2 yard line.

If the Bears offense actually works, Tory doesn't even play in the game. Hard to get punts inside the 5 if you don't get on the field.

Now if he does kickoffs also, that adds alot more value. Someone mentioned the way he spins the ball when he kicks. Trying stuff like that in this new kickoff game could be a key to turnovers. The Crocodile Punter may have alot of value there. I hope they explore that with him.

[HisRoyalSweetness]

I was at the game in which Sweetness set the then single game rushing record and I can tell you, it sucked. Except for him. Neither the Bears nor Viqueens did a thing offensively except for Walter.

Doesn't that sum up most of Walter's career?

As Mr Dylan once sang, the times they are a-changin'...