General GM Philosophies

[dll2000]

Just some quick thoughts on the philosophies I would have as a GM.

I value some positions over others - as does most everyone now.  

I think Pace had a really good list.  I heard him talk about it in one of his first GM interviews after being hired by Bears and I agree with it.  Funny that he didn't follow it.  I think it cost him his job.  

Priority positions:  QB, CB, Edge, Ball Hawking S, OT

Those guys, to me, are the hardest to find at a high level and make the most impact.   A lot of people say 3T now.  Those are great, I love a good 3T.   A lot of times those great 3Ts end up spending a lot of time on edge where they are more useful.  I am happy with my list.

To that effect you want to go after these guys early when available in draft and these are guys you save or reserve money to extend or spend on in FA if necessary.  

You prioritize QB at every opportunity until you have one.  If that means you draft a first round QB every 3  - 5 years then so be it.  And even after you have your franchise QB you want to be keeping young development guys on roster to train and possibly start or flip for draft picks.

You should draft an OT often.   They are usually the best Olinemen on their team and most can move to G with little difficulty and training and they often end up better at G than most Gs that were drafted as Gs.

If you are drafting Gs or Cs unless they are stand alone awesome they should have C versatility.   

The Oline should be build through the OTs and C and Gs should be the filler positions.

A good Oline would be a top priority for me as a GM.   Very few teams are bad teams with great O lines in place.  Great Olines make most RBs great and make average QBs look good.

Lower in draft rounds 4 - 7 I would still be looking for upper level talent.   I think the object of game is to continually attempt to add blue chip talent, not fillers.   Even though filler is reality.

To that end I am looking at injured guys and small school guys flying under radar.  Pace actually did a good job with this - but he did it too early a lot of times.  He got too excited trying to find hidden gems and look like a really smart guy.  It's okay if someone you like in 4th goes to someone else in 3rd or 2nd.  They have a low hit rate.  Don't over draft them.   Shaheen is a great example.   Okay to take a flyer on a Shaheen and yes Denver may have drafted him if you didn't take him in 2nd.  You have to let them go.  Play the odds more.

Also in this range take a QB every few years and see what happens.  You don't have to do it EVERY year.  You need time to develop those guys and see what you have.

Continuing in later rounds... Take a physical corner sometimes with good coverage skills and move him to safety.  Just like OT are better OL on most teams.   The better DBs get put at CB first.   Same philosophy.   They may not be good enough to cover an NFL X, but they may be fantastic at giving help and covering TEs.  A great way to find hidden talent and maximize talent on team.   I may have already done this with Terrell Smith on our current roster.  

I used to think you could draft DL and covert them to OL and WRs and covert them to DBs on same philosophy - but there just isn't sufficient practice time in NFL to get those swaps done efficiently.  I am off that.   If there was a farm league I may indeed do that.  But not in present system.

I am not an always trade down for more picks guy.  Games are won and lost with coaching and blue chip players.  Trading off a blue chip player is a mistake IMO.  They are force multipliers.

The problem of course is identifying blue chip players.   But I would trust in my ability and not the always throw more darts philosophy.   The better guys generally do go earlier.  Your competition gets paid to evaluate guys too.

 

 

 

 

Edited February 27 by dll2000
typos

[Sugashane]

I'll get to mine when I get home. I have my own stupid draft grade process and armchair GM philosophies. Lol

[Sugashane]

Ok so here is my positional breakdowns. First lets go over positional importance. If I use the > then it is more important, if I use the / then they are in the same grouping.  

Positional Order of Importance

QB > OT/EDGE > CB/WR/3T > FS/TE/WHB > OG/C > LB/DT/ > SS/RBC > K > FB > P > LS

 

Explanations:

QB is the motor of the offense. With a great one you can do almost anything, with a poor one you can do near nothing.

OT/EDGE – Simply put to me the game is about beating the hell out of the opposing QB and protecting your own QB. If you do both its rare to lose.

CB and WRs are the elite skill positions. CB is the hardest position in football besides QB and a QB will look like crap if they have no one to pass to. Remember what I said about hitting the QB being a prime objective? Well guess who does that on the inside of the DL, the 3T.  

FS, TE and WHB– This is a ball hawking FS, not a traditional S that can roll play deep or into the box, I mean guys like Mike Brown, Ed Reed, etc. I want turnovers. For TE these are guys that can block and catch. If you offer me a Gronk or Kelce then they move up with THAT level of receiving ability. They are often guys that help protect the QB, open running lanes, or act as a safety net. WHB stand for Work Horse Back. These guys are like CMC, Henry, Forte, etc. Either they are dominant at one thing (Henry) or do several things well enough your depth can’t match up (CMC, Forte). 99% of the plays go either in the QB or RB’s hands, put the talented player there.

IOL – Guys that are stout and protect the QB but aren’t as capable in space. I lump them together but if being specific I list them in order of RG>C>LG because RGs are often left more on islands, Cs roll over to the LG to help protect the QBs blindside and LGs are allowed to have the most help. I know Cs are supposed to be the leaders but they are often the least physically capable in one on one situation. Regardless protecting the QB is a premium.

LB/DT – This is for offball LBs and DT/NTs. Both have important roles but are usually the guys able to be schemed around more easily than most EDGE and lockdown CBs. Generally I LBs to have 1-2 3 down talents (Edmunds and Edwards fit this perfectly) and 1 guy who does one thing really well (I often refer to Brandon Spikes, stud vs the run, get him out otherwise). Same for the DTs, this is where I want the Billings of the world.

SS/RBC – Need to fill out the defense, this is the guy that may be too slow to be a CB but is tenacious or too light in the *** to be a LB bit is athletic. The Amos’ belong here. RBC is Running Back Committee. This is where the Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohens go, guys that have a clear role but you may know they only do one thing well.

K – They aren’t respected until it’s a game winner but they add a TON of points if they’re good at their job. The Bears were a mess there between Gould and Santos.

FB – Either I want a hulking, mean SOB (Ricard, Neal, Daryl Johnston – last two weren’t  huge but blocked like a 280lb dude) or a versatile piece that can’t be a fulltime RB (Juszczyk, Kuhn, Leach)

P – I want power. Kick the sumbitch deep and let coverage do what they’re supposed to do. If you can coffin kick great, but I want to flip the field to help the defense.

LS – Like the K, no one respects the spot until they screw up. Would you believe I have a Mannely jersey? Because if you do, you’re dumb. Lol jk.

 

Roster Layout

Ok, now I have positional value, now for the traits I want from each spot with the pro roster, I’ll go with the 4-3 for simplicity.

QB – I want accuracy under pressure and a guy who can consistently make the smart play. Athleticism is a plus, as is a cannon. But I’ll take a Brees before a Josh Allen for example. But I want them to be able to protect the ball and attack all levels of the field.

HB – Do something extremely well, depth do one thing well. If it is a tank like Henry, Bettis, etc than great. If he is versatile like CMC, LT, or Forte great. IDC. Do something special or do everything well, or I am doing a RBC.

FB – I want either a hulking blocker to be a 6^th OL (I still say CornWash would have had a great career as a 280lb FB) or give me a scrappy SOB who can be another weapon too. I’m fine with either, but a midround TE with a bad attitude an undersized DT with some movement ability, or a strong LB that can’t cover seem to do well.

WR – I like a mix of speed and size, I don’t care if WR1 is one or the other, I care that they can routinely make plays. Are they brutes like BMarsh, Owens, or Evans? Speedsters like Holt or Hill? Quick technicians like Harrsion or Chad Johnson? Hands for glue like Fitzgerald and Carter? Physical freaks like Moss or Johnson? IDC. Do something well and I will find a role for you to compliment the other WRs. I can run with all 6’4”, 230+ guys or all guys 6’ and under 200lbs.  

TE – Again, do something well. Are you a good threat as a receiver, if so excellent. I can deal with a rocked up WR any day. Are you a damn good blocker but not enough to play actual OL, still pretty sweet. You can get the dump offs and help the run game. If you are good at both but not elite at either, still great because now you don’t tip off the defense.

OT – SPACE. Must be able to play in space. Now I want at least one guy that can play almost completely independently to cover the blindside. But this isn’t the days where the LT lines up vs the RE all day, defenses have evolved. So now I want at least one “true” LT and the RT needs to be someone who can hold their own in space, but if you have a monster like Orlando Brown or Dawand Jones then you put them there. I have zero issues chipping the EMLOS inside to let the mauler get his mitts on them. I call it 5.5 man protection when you do that, and I firmly believe it amplifies how well most RTs do (sometimes means defenses forget about the TE so they can break off a good chunk too).

OG – I want bullies. I’ve said for years if I can’t have a Larry Allen then let me have Richie Incognitos on the interior (minus the racist POS streak, I just mean as football players). I think of OTs as the uber-talented big brother, but the OGs are the less-gifted but angrier little brothers. I LOVE mean bullies that play through the echo of the whistle. These guys need to be strong and want to bury their guy, they need to be able to anchor.

C – If there is any spot for a “finesse” OL on my team, it is at the C spot. Generally they help the LG vs the 3Ts or if they have the hulking NTs that are a rarity anymore then they have help from one of the OGs. Still, I prefer this to be the same as the OGs, guys who are mean and nasty but this is the spot where mobility is a bigger plus on the inside. Being literate here is a plus too.

EDGE – Beat the piss out of the opposing QB. I care about late hits less than most. I would be totally fine getting one per game, just make sure the SOB is seeing ghosts for the rest of the game. Hitting the QB is paramount, if you are good vs the run then that is a positive. But a run stuffing end who can’t rush the passer is all but useless to me. Go to NT or be the 3^rd option off the sideline.

3T – Beat the piss out of the QB, but be chunkier while you do it. Or be Aaron Donald. If you can be Aaron Donald, then you ******* be Aaron Donald.

NT – I like to put the second best passrusher inside here, usually a bullrushing specialist. Then back them up with the big nasty who only eats blockers and holds his ground. If you want to start the incredible bulk first (Billings) then do so and sub him out on 3^rd and longs.

OLB – WILLs are more important than SAMs because they demand versatility. I saw WILL doesn’t need the craziest athleticism but needs to be the most sound technically in coverage. SAMs need to be physical and stout vs the run. If you have an undersized passrusher then this is where they can go to set the edge and attack.

MLB – This is where you need to be extremely quick to diagnose and attack or be the most physically gifted LB IMO. You are sideline to sideline and hunting RBs that are almost always great athletes.

CB – Its such a hard position, I was a good WR and I could play S pretty well, I could only fill a VERY specific role at CB (jump balls, run containment, and blitzing – outside of that, I was screwed   lol). I personally love to attack with 5 pretty constantly (Pretty sure I’m related to Flores and Wink) so I prefer man coverage specialists.

FS –I want ballskills If you don’t have the hips to be a CB for me but can track the ball really well (or are just a zone specialist in general) then FS is where I will put you. I’m going to have guys hitting the QB, a pass will be errant a few times a game. Make them pay.

SS – These guys are to CBs what OGs are to OTs. They’re not as gifted, and they’re angry about it. Remember how I said I don’t mind a late hit on the QB once per game? I also don’t mind one major shot on a receiver per game either, I’ll eat that flag if it gets the stud WR1 to get crocodile arms all game. This is where speed and physicality are key because I may blitz them, use the, as QB spies, or in a deep coverage.

 

How I Grade

So for drafting I grade every one of the base 22 starters on the same scale, but then I add positional value to that. I grade them based on what I see when I watch them, if they look physically superior to peers, stats, and if I think the scheme hides issues (think how Air Raid usually has quick two level reads or predetermined throws – which helps QBs and OTs a lot) and then give a base grade. Then I have positional values that either boost or lower that grade. QBs have a full round bonus (1.0 for me), EDGE and OTs get a 0.8 bonus, CBs and WRs get 0.75, etc. Positional versatility (OL who can play C, guys who can be base EDGE and kick inside in nickel, returner ability, etc) all get a 0.3 bonus on it. If they test out at the combine (long arms for OL, super fast on drills, really good explosion, etc) then they can get a 0.2 bonus. Not enough to drastically boost stock but helps separate people who are really close at least. I’ve gotten lazy over the last 4 years or so with this and don’t break down film or record games to rewatch like I use to.

 

Draft Positions and Traits I Want from Them

***I’ll even throw in my favorite prospects of all time for each spot.***

QB is king. I think many Bears fans are fine with settling because the Bears were dominant in the 80s with a mediocre QB, but look what happened when he went down and the position was totally inept. Wasted a dynasty. I want the Rodgers, Brees, Herbert, etc. Unless they are top 10 (without a doubt in my mind at least) then they won’t get a big contract from me. I will trade up and trade major resources to get MY guy. Favorite QB prospect of all time – Aaron Rodgers

RBs are key. Unless it is a trick play then any real offensive play goes through the QB or RB’s hands (I count both punting and kicking as purely special teams rather than offense or defense just for ease). I want dynamic talent, and value speed over brute strength. Vision, acceleration, and ability to break tackles are top priorities. If they do it by running over, past, or juking defenders – IDC. Just get yards. I would prefer an all around workhorse but will gladly take a pair of specialists with lower picks. With Derrick Henry I traded into the first to get his 5^th year deal, and I think that is about where I would go for my top prospects usually. Most drafts there may only be 1 RB worth a first rounder to me.  Favorite prospect here – Adrian Peterson

FB – I love the psychos here, guys that LOVE contact and want to blow you up on a play by play basis. They’re OL that can see their toes when they look down. But I’m looking 4^th at highest here, usually 6^th and 7^th picks as they are too small to be OL or too slow/unskilled to be true threats as RBs or TEs. Favorite prospect - Owen Marecic, though CornWash would have been a convert for me there

WRs need to do something special. As a WR1/WR2 they need to be able to have good hands and something that is the in the top 25% of the league. Are they great at catching in traffic, are they technical route runners, are they freakish speedsters, etc. Its rare to have guys like Largent be just ok athletes and still be great, I want a high ceiling so they have to excel at something. When it gets to depth I am more about traits, I would be very happy with Leggette’s speed, Wilson’s ridiculous size, or Pearsall’s shiftiness in the 2^nd or 3^rd round for example. I will find a role for them in the offense. I’ll draft a WR top 3 or as a late round prospect, and anywhere in between. Favorite - Larry Fitzgerald (Sports Illustrated had a piece on him that really got me attached to him)

TEs need to either be really good in the passing game or pretty good in both, or you’re depth. Kmet offers a level of versatility I love, and I would love to pair a move end with him. For elite receiving potential I will draft one top 10, usually they are 2^nd- 5^th rounders. If they are 4^th and later then they are likely just SUPER raw (Kuntz last year) or someone I likely think is only a blocker or prospective FB.  Favorite - Pitts

OTs are my dancing bears. I will happily invest 1^st rounders every 2-3 years here and never feel bad about it. I’ll draft one first overall in a crackhead heatbeat if I have my franchise QB, but I will favor traits and rely on the OL coach to develop them. Its their job to craft, its my job to ensure they have the material to build.  Favorite – Robert Gallery (oops), I did call for Mailata for several months pre-draft and drafted him real time before PHI! Does that offset this pick? lol

IOL – unless I think you’re special (I would have drafted Nelson early in the 1^st, wanted Tippmann in the 2^nd last year and drafted Trey Smith before KC did) then I am drafting college OTs and stacking you all along the OL. I would have zero issues stacking the OL with nothing but college OTs, and here is the thing – I want college OTs who project as OTs in the pros. I want guys who can move and play in space EVERYWHERE. My OTs are generally guys who were “pro LTs” and my IOL are “RTs” by standard measures. I will take in the first if needed, but I generally think of these as 2d-5^th round picks. If you’re a 5^th- or later pick you probably don’t have the athleticism or are too weak/soft to fit on my OL Or you’re super raw like Jordan Mailata was, but those are traits I treasure so whatever. Favorite – Quentin Nelson, though I had a draft magazine LONG ago that said Jason Peters was a 330lb TE that could run sub 4.8 40, and I instantly wanted to put him at OG and let him put defenders in an early grave when he pulled. That was nothing but a lucky guess though, but I called him a 2^rd rounder just because of thatmagazine. He went undrafted to BUF. That pick was just stupid luck for me  lol  

EDGE need to be athletic and tenacious. Hit the QB, as often as possible. Nothing pisses me off more than seeing a QB with a clean jersey after the game is over. I’d rather lose by 21 and watch the QB limping around and covered in grass/bloodstains than the QB be clean but the Bears lose a shootout in OT. I spent years as the RE in a 5-3 defense where I contained and tried to make the QB cry, and that was all I was supposed to do. So if you aren’t MY QB, then I ******* hate you. My favorite EDGE prospect of all time (and favorite overall of all time) – Davis Pollack.

Offball LB (WILL and MIKE) – Generally I don’t want to spend a 1^st here, exceptions like Smith and Edmunds occur but I usually think there are 2^nd-4^th round picks. The game has evolves so there is a level of athleticism that is necessary to be a 3 down player, so I will invest here. I will not draft someone if they are not physical tacklers and I give bonus points for being punishing guys. Loved Bostic for being a headhunter (and Gator). Favorite prospect – Jaylon Smith (bowl game injury totally ruined his pro career IMO)

SAM – I want either a LB that is brutally strong here or an undersized EDGE rusher. They HAVE to be super physical and be willing to take out blockers to clear up paths for the other two LBs. They’re the NTs of the two point stance. That being said, I am looking at 3^rd round at the absolute highest, and likely closer to the 5^th round as they likely can’t play the MIKE or WILL properly. Favorite – Brandon Spikes (I know he was a MIKE for years but he was always a 2 down player, Belichick just knew how to utilize and rotate him so well).

CBs – I will spend a top 10 pick here and not blink. I love physical tools here and ballskills. If you can be in the WRs pocket then you can make a play, I don’t want to focus too much on special traits or skills here, I prefer man coverage specialists, I like size/speed/athleticism, and there needs to be a level of toughness here. I draft regularly and keep trying to stock up. Favorite prospect – Joe Haden (Gator bias finally helped me here)

FS – This is the one place where zone specialist CBs fit in great for me. I want basically a zone CB here and that was what guys like Earl Thomas and Mike Brown were, but they could hit like hell too. I’m fine with FS being a mid tackler, I prioritize turnovers and like physical talents here a lot too. Favorite prospect – Michael Huff

SS – I love enforcers. This is where I want the Kam Chancellor’s or Brian Dawkins, guys that your QB knows he can’t throw near or his target may get knocked the hell out. They’re the OGs for me of the defense, and I like them being a little ‘too’ aggressive. Favorite prospect – LaRon Landry.

 

Basic Draft Philosophies.

Draft college OTs with pro OT gifts, stack them all along the OL. Have a raw OT talent? He’s an OG. Got short arms but is smart? Learn to snap. I’m almost always drafting one 2 per year. Last year I went ape**** and overloaded the OL in my real time draft, and have ZERO regrets about it. I’d use that draft for my dynasty mock if I could. (Can I do that?)

The system has to fit the QB, not the other way around. That being said, if you have a QB you really want to push to be the guy, get a back up with the same playstyle/physical gifts. No going from Tru to Foles or Dalton to Fields. If your starter is really mobile, then the back up needs to be as well. So if the QB1 goes down then you’re not shifting EVERYTHING around on offense to get him to fit. You’ve spent all offseason getting the other 10 guys use to something, keep them doing the same exact thing if QB1 goes down so you can prop QB2 up for the time being.

I’d rather roll with a 5^th that has electric athletic talents than a “safe” 3^rd rounder who is average at everything. Coaches are there to develop. Give them the tools to work with and let them do their job or replace them.

HBs have to be special to be picked in the top 2 rounds for me. Generally I pick them in the 4^th and beyond. I am a sucker for high effort in all spots, but Monty fighting for every inch was live-action art to me. I am hoping Johnson keeps showing that, he started a little softer than I expected last year but I think he was overthinking due to his limited reps early on.

I want to have my DBs be all CBs if possible. Like OL I draft 1-2 every year, I could happily put CBs in both S spots, NB, and on the boundaries, for starters and for depth. I could easily not draft a true S at all, just as I could do the same with OGs. Put the slowest/most physical at SS, the zone specialist ballhawk at FS, and press the hell out of the WRs with the other 3. I prefer the 4-2-5 like that. That being said I think a traditional SS is easier to find so I have no issues with a standard SS, I prefer enforcers but feel like they are a thing of the past due to rule changes. I flipflop a lot here.

Unless you’re a TEAM elite (Bears have Moore, Sweat, Johnson, Edmunds, Edwards, Jenkins, and Kmet) then you need competition. Those guys are the only ones I am handing the starting gig to. Wright looked great for a rookie, still has to own that spot. Dexter took off, still has to earn it. I want battles all across the board, and will draft prospects to push guys if I think they have potential.

I will draft “problem children” with mid to late picks. No GM loses his job for sucking in the 5^th round every year, if you are hitting at a decent rate early on and developing a few late rounders then you have a pretty good team built up. For guys with academic or legal woes then I can deal with for a 4^th or later. Guys with great physical tools go here too. Or guys with medical red flags. All can be taken, because the risk is minimal at that point for what may be a hell of a reward.

Punters and kickers are people too. They aren’t real people though… so they don’t get graded on the same scale as the base 22 spots. 5^th round picks are for guys I think can be top 5 (like I said with Araiza, Aguayo, and Pineiro). 6^th is for guys that I think will be above average starters rather early. 7^th is to secure someone that I NEED for a role, like I have no K or P on staff and will take one here just to ensure I have my favorite guy left and then he has to beat out the camp bodies for the gig.

Punt returners are more important than kick returners now, and I will draft someone for the sole purpose of returning punts. If that is all they are going to do then 4^th would be the highest I think I’d go, and I’d have to think they’re going to be elite in that role. Otherwise I will see if someone can multitask to try and get on the field more, and I will still draft a speedster later to challenge there.

Just how IOL versatility is huge for me, versatility in the WR corps is huge to me too. Bears didn’t have a really good receiving back this year, I still think Scott and Jones should have been fighting for the 3^rd and long scatback roles. Fields was electric with his legs, all he has to do is extend the play so they get open and he can let them use their speed (assuming Jones doesn’t stonehands it). I know the CMC/Deebo pairing is a unicorn, but depth/fringe guys will get to dress for me if they can cover more than one role.

 

Round Allocation

Rounds 1-2 I want starters, guys that can come in at least as a rotational piece early on. Round 1 will probably be starting or playing a LOT of reps early on

Rounds 3-4 I want guys who have good ceilings and physical traits. Higher RAS numbers help more here than 1-2 because their film usually doesn’t show enough to warrant a 1^st or 2^nd round pick. But these guys will fight for starting or top depth roles early on, and will hopefully be starters in the next 2-3 years.

5-7 I am drafting for almost pure potential and athletic gifts. IDGAF about what happens here, I am swinging for the fences. Red flags get dropped here, and their ceiling is what I care about most. This is also where the completely one dimensional guys fit perfectly. The mammoth NT that offers no passrush, the undersized EDGE or runstuffing LB that ran the 5.2 sec 40, the 250 lb runner, or the conversion prospects (like going from QB to WR). These guys are on a shorter string so if they screw it up you are out of less. If they hit occasionally you look like a genius.

 

Practice Squad

I stack the practice squad for scout team purposes more than I do for actual team depth. I always will want a running QB and would have signed Malik Cunningham for that role. Do I think he could be a real depth option? No. But he would be a stellar piece for your defense to get to work with to work on containment. With Jackson, Fields, Allen, Murray, etc you have a ton of guys who are great athletes at QB, and then you also have guys that move around really well like Mahomes and Rodgers who can extend plays of you’re not sound in your gaps. We risk a QB1 or QB2? Use the f-ing PS QB to get them to work against! Then let them hit his pads so they don’t get use to pulling up on QBs. Hell get 2 guys so you can drill man coverage concepts even faster. You have limited time to drill guys, so having 5 guys throwing mean 5 receivers and 5 DBs get reps instead of 2-3. More reps across the board.  

Get 1-2 huge WRs to get to have your DBs work against for jump balls. Last year I was looking at a kid named Jenkins who was 6’6” and a Landers kid who was a freaky physical specimen. IDK if they were drafted but they’d have been on my UDFA shortlist to carry out this role. And one may have been there to bench Jones and push ESB at minimum. Hell maybe have taken Tonyan’s role. Lol

Get small school guys in there or guys who got lost behind stellar athletes from top schools. Drew Sanders was a fairly unknown at Bama to casual fans, but he went to Arkansas and made a name for himself. There are guys who don’t make that move that get lost in the shuffle. Underachieving 5 star prospects should be targets here.

Stack guys with abnormally high RAS, high measurables. Maybe some more conversion guys, like DL/OL converts (they may have to practice as both to stay on the PS if I’m trying to get as many reps as possible) or tall WRs who are bulking up to try to go to TE. This isn’t for guys who are low end athletes to fill out roster, I want guys on the PS that can push the top 53 in some way, any way. Now if they outplay a guy that is the 3^rd or whatever, hell yeah I’ll move them up.

 

... I think that's it?

[BEAR FACE DOWN ARROW]

5 hours ago, Sugashane said:

 

 

... I think that's it?

Are you sure?  

 

I mean this with utmost respect: I read the whole thing. 

 

I agree with both of your thoguhts in general.  The only thing I would add for this draft/FA offseason is that since we're probably throwing a new QB in, I'd be happy to overdraft or overpay to make certain he's in a good situation, and thus prioritize offense.  It's already better than what Trubsiky or Fields were surrounded by, but if they have, say,  an edge ranked 10 and a OT ranked 15, I'd happily have them take the OT.  And in this particular draft, if their picks at WR are gone I'd be thrilled if they took one of the top tackles.  Jones is fine but he's coming off an injury and if you think you could get a guy who'd be a top 10 LT, goferit.  (cue the Bears drafting CB, LB in round one)

[Sugashane]

Well @BEAR FACE DOWN ARROW got me on another tangent so here is the next piece.  lol

 

Roster Building Considerations

There are a few things I thought about as well.

 

I believe RBs and QBs caps should be lumped together. I have zero issue paying a Derrick Henry or Chubb with a QB on a rookie deal, as in guys who are dominant runners without a ton of upside as a receiver. If you are a CMC/Saquon talent I can be swayed more easily too as you're a multifaceted weapon. But since so much of the time the ball is either in the QB or RB’s hands I think they should be together. If I am paying $50 mil per year to a QB he will have to handle young RBs or vets on cheap deals. There are few exceptions (seeing Henry go to LAC with Harbaugh, Herbert, and Roman would be awesome and is one such exception). If doing a RBC I want one slasher/speedster and one tank, rather than 2 all around guys. Give me someone that excels at something and I’ll use that trait.

WRs- I said before I can deal with guys with whatever traits, but I will keep versatile guys for the depth. If you can be a guy to get YAC you will have a role for me, if you can be a really dangerous punt returner you can stick, if you can jump in as the scatback for 3rd and long and make someone miss, you'll find a spot with me. I just want you to do one thing well to get my attention.

TEs – I do like a mix of guys. I actually loved how Poles set up the TE room. Kmet was the best player and could block or catch. They had Tonyan who has been a really good receiving threat before (he just flopped, it happens) and then Father Time Lewis is still a 6^th OL out there. I love that one goes down then you can still have the in-line and flex roles covered as long as you have two of the 3. That is massive to me. I enjoy being able to use my move TE as a 3^rd WR and have 11 and 12 personnel be the same, but utilize that personnel to take advantage of who they have on the field. If they are small, then I want to use my 2 TEs to help run over them. If they get bigger, try to use your athleticism and shifts/motions to create significant mismatches.

OL – I want the best 5 on the field. So positional versatility is huge to me. I firmly believe EVERY IOL should be capable of snapping. I wouldn’t want any drills where the QB is throwing routes and getting snaps from a coach. Screw that, get reps for your potential IOL. Especially since I like having multiple QBs and WRs doing the same routes in a line to get more total reps. There are swing OTs and swing IOLs for me. I also want constant competition because I am constantly adding talent, because I am hoping to get priced out on occasion. Also if I have one guy that is REALLY good as a run blocker but can't mirror to save his life, I can still use him. I have zero issues putting a heavy in at FB (same if I have a mammoth DT with movement ability) or to check in as a TE. Hell in true goal lines I might even go 7 OL, a heavy DT in as a FB, the best blocking TE, and the goal line RB

. The Brotherly Shove is a perfect example of defenses knowing what you're going to do but not being able to do a damn thing about it. I don't want to react to you, I want to enforce my will on you with my trenches.

EDGE – I like having one physical freak who can only rush the passer, and maybe be nothing at all but speed. I always think of Bruce Irvin in SEA when Quinn put him in the wide-9 position. He was more if a handful than his stats showed IMO. This is where guys like Mark Anderson could have played a bigger role, or even Dominique Robinson as he is learning the position but had ridiculous burst. Just like a QB you find what they do really well and abuse it, then try to develop them into better overall players over time. Fangio did this with Aldon Smith, he pinned his ears back, then subbed him out to keep his wind.

DT/NT – I like having one huge tank at least. He is basically the goal line specialist. With QB sneaks being done so well I have only doubled down on it. Get my 350lb macktruck right over the C and try to dig under. I prefer athletic DTs overall but if I have one guy that is  pure passrusher (think like Henry Melton) then I need someone to balance that by being stout vs the run. I LOVE when there is positional versatility, Izzy being able to play inside or outside well allows you to draft the best player overall instead of taking a lesser player to fill a role that is completely open. That was why I liked Izzy so much and a major reason why I wanted to get Zach Allen so bad last year too. Much like OL I want bullies, I want them mean and aggressive. Hicks is my favorite DL that the Bears have ever had that wasn’t a true EDGE. LOVED watching how brutally strong and aggressive he was.

LBs – I like athleticism, length, and versatility, but one thing ALL LBs have to have is aggressiveness. I loathe seeing a LB sit in a gap or catching blockers 4 yards off the LOS. I get it that some RPOs are done well and you have to be disciplined so you don’t open up an easy throwing lane, but I mean when they see the ballcarrier and aren’t trying to meet them at least at the LOS. This is where Briggs and Hillenmeyer were fantastic for me. Neither was particularly special as athletes but both would come up and meet blockers or RBs at the LOS every single opportunity they had. I’ll take that all day as opposed to Kirk Morrison, who had some great statlines but just constantly was making tackles 4-5 yards from the LOS. Essentially Kirk was the ‘prevent’ or ‘bend-but-don’t-break’ LB, which always irritated the piss out of me. I’m paying the big uglies to keep you pretty and clean and you’re going to be passive? Hell no.

 

Vets – I want one ‘old head’ vet per group. Even if they are nothing but guys that are like mini-coaches for practice, helping the young guys review film and learn how to be a pro, I want one in each group. QB, RB/FBs, TE, WR, OL, DL, LB, DB. That’s 8 guys that may not even dress but each one has 7+ years of experience in the NFL. They don’t have to have been starters or guys who had great careers and are in the twilight of it, and they may not fit the profiles I listed above of being super athletic or an elite trait. Their biggest trait has been longevity and possibly who they have played by/under. For this year I am talking about Akiem Hicks, Blaine Gabbart, Matt Brieda, Randall Cobb, Marcedes Lewis, Justin Bethel, Gipson, etc. These are guys that either can only do one thing or you don’t want them out there unless you’ve pulled your starters, but they have a lot of experience to share and can show tricks of the trade they have picked up over the years from the various vet and staffs they have been with. Even just to help the young guys prepare and see how to take care of themselves over such a long season, those little bits add up IMO. Yes it is the coaches job to develop and groom players but there’s just too many coaches for everyone to get attention and there are too many different ways of doing things to limit your team IMO. Maybe I get a QB that has worked with Reid, McVay or Shanny and they have something that my coaches pick up and use from there on out. You have to fill the roster out and nobody wants to play their WR5 of QB3, so why not at least get some sort of use out of those guys? Who knows, they may end up being future coaching assistants you end up hiring later.

[dll2000]

I am glad I inspired Suga to do some serious writing.

Good stuff. 

[Sugashane]

1 hour ago, dll2000 said:

I am glad I inspired Suga to do some serious writing.

Good stuff. 

Well, I posted at after 2:30am and have to get up at 5:45am every day, so I haven't forgiven you yet. Lol

[dll2000]

22 minutes ago, Sugashane said:

Well, I posted at after 2:30am and have to get up at 5:45am every day, so I haven't forgiven you yet. Lol

I am procrastinating on some work as we speak.

At this point in my life I hate having to learn new things and not being sure of an answer of what I need to do.  Position I am in today.

I asked a bunch of other people in business and they aren't sure either.  I went and got some materials from law library to shift through sitting on a table waiting for me to read them.

Not wanting to.

Oh well.  Doing it now I guess.