The draft evaluation process is difficult, time-consuming and prone to massive failure when done wrong. Few teams know this better than the Chicago Bears. From 2011 through 2014 they experienced arguably one of the worst runs of player selection in franchise history. Of the 27 players picked between GMs Jerry Angelo and Phil Emery during that span, just 11 remain on the roster. Only four of them are starters.
Such a high miss rate is a perfect explanation for why this team went from 10-6 in 2012 to 3-13 in 2016. Nothing sinks an NFL organization faster than poor drafting. It happened during that stretch, it happens in the 1990s and the 1970s. This is nothing new to the Bears, though this latest run feels more painful. Perhaps because the wounds are still fresh.
Regardless, one thing is for certain. The new regime is doing anything and everything in their power to change that. They took a step in the right direction with their outstanding 2016 class. Guys like Leonard Floyd, Cody Whitehair and Jordan Howard were big finds. Just how di the team do it? They have certain methods. One of which was pretty awesome to hear about.
One of the more challenging parts is separating true football players from good athletes and guys just seeking a paycheck. It's often said there is no way to measure the heard of somebody in this business. While technically true, there are ways to help make it bubble to the surface. Bears GM Ryan Pace came up with a clever little move at the Senior Bowl to help the team pinpoint certain players that take the game a bit more seriously.
NBC Sports explained.
"...Pace said the team had scouts sit in on each position group’s meetings throughout the week to gauge not only how quickly players caught on to what was being taught, but how they interacted with other players and Bears employees. “There are guys right away we’re talking about that we’re all on the same page with not only with what we’re doing on the field but what they’re doing behind the scenes,” Pace said. “Talking to Fox or to me is one thing. How a guy treats your third trainer can be a little revealing.” Pace said the Bears go forward with their draft preparation knowing “this guy is football intelligent, this guy is good with his teammates, this guy loves football,” and said that kind of information can be important. “These are things that over a week’s timespan really reveal themselves,” Pace said. “Our antennas were up. It’s been awesome.”Their antennas certainly went up with Lorenzo Jerome who seemed to respond well to their coaching style during the Senior Bowl game. The St. Francis safety forced a fumble and had two big interceptions that helped keep the North team in the game. His big play ability is something the Bears have been dying for after forcing just 11 takeaways in 2016. https://twitter.com/FanSportsClips/status/825436077104074752 https://twitter.com/FanSportsClips/status/825468599422709760 This event is just one of several during the predraft process. Still, given what Pace revealed in terms of their thought process and operation definitely offers encouragement for what's coming in April. This is without question the most important draft the franchise has prepared for in at least a decade. It's nice to know that the front office and coaching staff are putting in the extra effort to find players who not only can help the team win, but want to help the team win.
