A common misconception about the draft process is that only the scouts and the GM ultimately dictate who a team selects. That might be true for some teams, but in reality, the coaching staff plays a central role in evaluations as well. It wouldn't be smart of the Chicago Bears to bring in assistants at every position group and not at least ask them what types of players they think they can get the most out of.
Ben Johnson has overhauled the staff with mostly new faces. Each of them brings a different area of expertise to their respective positions. After reviewing their histories, I dug into the upcoming pool of draft prospects to pinpoint certain names that stand out as ones they'd push for.
The Chicago Bears coaching staff will likely gravitate to these names.
Eric Bieniemy (RBs)
Player to watch: Quindshon Judkins
Bieniemy has coached some outstanding running backs in his career, from Maurice Jones-Drew to Adrian Pederson and Kareem Hunt. They all share a mix of great vision and lower body strength. No player exemplifies this style more than Judkins. He's not a home run threat, but he's a strong runner who is difficult to bring down and always finds where the lane will be.
Antwaan Randle El (WRs)
Player to watch: Jack Bech
At first glance, the receivers who excelled under Randle El don't seem to have much in common. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams are two totally different players. However, one thing they share is excellent ball-tracking ability, especially down the field. Bech is a lot like Brown. He's not the strongest or most explosive, but he's a sharp route runner who always seems to know where the ball is.
Dan Roushar (OL)
Player to watch: Armand Membou
Probably the most underrated trait for any offensive lineman is body control. That means they are able to maintain balance and positions in any situation, making it difficult to get past them. Roushar built an elite unit in New Orleans with this approach. Membou might have the best body control in the entire draft. He's never off balance and always seems to be in the right position. That is so hard to do at over 300 lbs.
Jeremy Garrett (DL)
Player to watch: Mykel Williams
Garrett is difficult to assess because he hasn't been coaching the defensive line for too long. If one thing stands out, it's his tendency to work with explosive athletes a lot. If this trend holds, then Williams is the easy choice outside of Abdul Carter since he won't be available. The Georgia produce needs polish, but he's a freak in almost every aspect, with both get-off and closing speed.
Richard Smith (LBs)
Player to watch: Barrett Carter
Hiring Smith wasn't a coincidence. He specializes in a certain type of linebacker—those who are good at blitzing. Dennis Allen likes to apply pressure with extra attackers, so this makes sense. Carter had 12.5 sacks over the past three years for Clemson, showcasing his ability to attack the pocket. The Chicago Bears aren't pressed for linebacker help, but he could be a good option later in the draft.
Al Harris (DBs)
Player to watch: Andrew Mukuba
Harris made his reputation pretty clear in Dallas. He is a master at uncovering great ballhawks. Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland both became All-Pros by snagging lots and lots of interceptions. Mukuba showed everybody his outstanding instincts and ball skills this past season with five interceptions for Texas. Allen likes having playmakers at the safety position, so this is a natural fit.
