Draft: Safety's group of 2019

   Didn't finish this one on time before the Bears stole Ha Ha Clinton-Dix off the free agency pool, a 1 year prove it deal. It doesn't "replace" Adrian Amos as a Strong Safety, Amos is more the enforcer type while Clinton-Dix is a cover guy but if paired with Eddie Jackson what happens is they maximize coverage "sacrificing" run support. Clinton-Dix or Jackson aren't bad tacklers, they just aren't sure tacklers, but what they are is ball hawks that can cover half of the field to shut down the deep ball and read the QBs eyes to pick off routs, so if the front seven is OK with not getting extra help, its going to be a tough day for QBs. Also this looks like Ryan Pace finding insurance if Jackson falls injured again, the feeling that if Jackson where healthy enough to play against the Eagles they would have won may have triggered Pace to get this done at all cost.

   Its been a passing league for some years now with teams searching for all around running backs that can catch and the three down back is scarce, so if the Bears offense can get leads early like they did last season forcing teams to forget about the run, this safety combo would be the perfect scenario. If this is the plan, having "max coverage" with double FSs on the field, then what happens if (know on wood) one gets injures? do they go conventional and stick Deon Bush as a SS or do they try and get depth at FS? Whatever they decide, the Bears can get a special teams player out of this group at the least.

   Going against the grain, I believe that Deionte Thompson isn't that good, atop the list I have Johnathan Abrams as the best strong safety this year in front of Taylor Rapp and Juan Thornhill. The best Free Safety I got is Nasir Aderley but not good enough to go in the first round as well as Marquise Blair. Chauncey Gardern-Johnson is my favorite of this group, still raw but I see loads of potential in him to be a really good FS and his attitude on the field could be contagious in a good way. These players I don't believe they will be available when the Bears are up, the ones I do think will be and I consider of interest are,

   Shedrick Redwine - More of a FS but does a good job of bringing ball carriers down, has enough agility and speed to react to the play, can play man and is decent in zone coverage.

   Evan Worthington - A bit raw recognizing where the ball is going but has very good agility and movement to react once he knows where to go, a big guy that makes it even more impressive how he can move, unfortunately he isn't as fast and can get beat by speedsters.

   Darnell Savage - A smallish back that can play the slot but could learn to play FS with his high athleticism and strength to tackle and take on blockers, he gets lost on plays, needs to be taught.

   Khari Willis - A strong SS that needs to get better at using his feet and align himself to plug the hole or attack the ball carrier, not good in coverage but could be a great enforcer to assist at the line of scrimmage and a special teams guy,

   Zedrick Woods - A patrolling compact SS that lives for contact, lacks some strength to get ball carrier down without giving them extra yardage but he can be an enforcer and special teams player.

   Pace eliminated the need at this position with Clinton-Dix, only some depth is required as does TE and EDGE positions, it seems that this years crop of EDGE players are better than the safety's and you can never have enough pass rushers.

Draft: CBs group of 2019

   I find it very difficult to evaluate cornebacks, in part its because I don't watch it from the 22 man view but from game clips, where they just run out of the screen and often one cant know how the play unfolds until the ball is thrown his way and that is only if the ball got thrown, what I get to watch is very limited, although what I look for or try to watch from a player, I believe the clips are enough to get an idea of how good I think he is.

   Now that Free agency is taking form as I write this, it seems very unlikely that Bryce Callahan returns to the team now that Buster Skrine is set to get signed once free agency hits officially. Skrine will be 30 years old when the season starts so his signing shouldn't stop the Bears from getting a younger one to mold to their system.

   As I watched this group in alphabetical order, I was thinking that this years bunch was not very good, but then some just popped up and at the end I finished giving 5 players a 1st round grade. Greedy Williams and Tayvon Mullen are the best of the bunch, Mullen looks more ready but Williams is good and could end up being the better one with experience. Byron Murphy is the better nickle corner of the group and can play outside as well. Rock Ya-Sin has everything to be a starter day 1 and Jamel Dean is a good player that will benefit from crunching the combine. I don't expect these players to be around when the Bears get to pick but there are 4 players that they could consider to battle Skrine for the position.

   David Long - He moves very effortless while sticking to his man, what I really like about him is that he often doesn't loose sight of the QB while shadowing the receiver on the move, he plays aggressive attacking the ball and doesn't shy away from contact. He might not be there for round 3 of the draft and don't know how suited he is to play the slot.

   Julian Love - He can play in nickle packages, moves fluidly with agility and can tackle, only concern I had was his game speed, he showed he has enough speed running the 40 at the combine.

   Ryan Pulley - Sticky corner and very agile while running, he can stop and change directions very quickly, a big plus is his aggressive play to frequently try and punch the ball out and he is a good tackler. Issues I have on him is his lack of recovery speed when getting beat or going against speedy receivers, he tends to grab to much.

   Ken Webster - He is a big question mark, he looks like a veteran with good instincts and technique, but physically doesn't show it consistently, he doesn't seem agile and fast enough to move to where he recognizes the play is going. At the combine he showed very good speed and agility, if he can show these same physical traits on the field, he could become a great player.

   Others to consider for depth could be Salvion Smith, big strong corner with good movement, his 40 yard dash on his pro day will decide on what round he goes. Kris Boyd may not be the best cover corner but can assist on run defense and has enough speed to go toe to toe with his man. Michael Jackson is a bit stiff but can play press man to disrupt routs and zone where he aggressively attacks the ball. Lonnie Johnson is a tall corner with some good movement and decent speed to cover big targets.

   The only big names behind the starting corners are promising but raw Kevin Toliver II and special teams captain and serviceable backup Sherick McManis and a bunch of practice squad dudes, I do believe the Bears will end up picking at least one corner this year.