GM Ryan Poles is the man who will build the Chicago Bears roster moving forward. That is the primary purpose of his job. Still, he isn’t the type of person that won’t accept the input of the coaching staff. Those men have the responsibility of developing the talent into capable starters. So they should have at least some opinions on who gets picked in the draft. After all, they each of their areas of expertise.
That led to an interesting research project. With an entirely new coaching staff arriving under Matt Eberflus, who might be some prospects for which each assistant would pound the table? Players they feel would become excellent pros if put under the guidance of each coach. It ended with some fascinating connections. Many of which could lead to exciting possibilities should they come to fruition.
New Chicago Bears coaching staff have their own preferences too
Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy = David Bell, WR, Purdue
Before becoming the Bears’ leading man on offense, Getsy built a strong receiver coach reputation. He has worked with guys like Jordy Nelson and Davante Adams in that time. Two players that exhibit a mix of size and route-running skills. They didn’t need elite speed to get open. That is the essence of what made Bell great at Purdue. He is not a burner in terms of speed. However, his 6’2 size, combined with an already impressive understanding of different route combinations made him a nightmare to cover. Ask Iowa. They had the 13th-best defense in the nation last year, and he torched them for 240 yards.
I keep hearing that David Bell can’t separate. I just don’t get it.
He’s diverse in his releases, technical with his stems and clean out of his breaks. Just because he’s not a speedster doesn’t mean he can’t get open. #Bears pic.twitter.com/Z4Hs7TfQ5B
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) February 26, 2022
Wide receivers coach Tyke Tolbert = Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
Tolbert has worked with several terrific wide receivers of varying qualities. His best efforts tend to involve shorter but faster types with quick route-running skills. Think Steve Johnson in Buffalo, Steve Smith in Carolina, and Emmanuel Sanders in Denver. Nobody emulates those names more in this class than Dotson. People always talk about his speed, which is considerable, but they easily miss his smooth routes and ability to make difficult catches look routine. Add in the ability to make defenders miss after the catch, and Tolbert would love this kid.
Offensive line coach Chris Morgan = Nick Petit-Frere, OT, Ohio State
Morgan started his journey proper as an offensive line coach in 2009. Since then, one trend has been noticeable with him. He likes size, and he likes athleticism. This was true with Jared Veldheer in 2010 and again with Chris Lindstrom in 2019. If you’re big and can move, he feels he can take care of the rest, whether improving technique or adding power. Petit-Frere is a perfect example. He’s a big dude at 6’5, 315 lbs while boasting quick feet to mirror most pass rushers with ease. His problems lay with underdeveloped fundamentals. Many felt he came out a year too early. Morgan is the kind of coach that wouldn’t fear such a challenge.
Which recruiting misses helped doom Dan Mullen at Florida? @RivalsFriedman breaks it down, including now Ohio State OL Nick Petit-Frere:https://t.co/aihIdnS42f pic.twitter.com/HDJKSdeYOf
— Rivals (@Rivals) November 24, 2021
Running backs coach David Walker = Snoop Conner, RB, Mississippi
Walker comes across as what somebody might call a “traditionalist.” He loves the throwback type of running backs. Tough, rugged players with strength, vision, and contact balance can handle heavy workloads. Versatility isn’t always their thing. Cooner is his type of player. An aggressive back that runs like he’s on literal fire. He loves to seek out contact and demonstrates good patience to find his blocks. He also does well in pass protection. Just don’t expect too much out of him as a receiver. Coaches never tried to use him as anything other than a bell cow to feed. Something he was pretty good at.
Tight ends coach Jim Dray = Greg Dulcich, TE, UCLA
Dray is getting his first opportunity to coach tight ends. So he doesn’t have a deep background to draw possibilities from. Based on his experience as a player, though, he would most likely favor players that display a good mix of size and speed. Somebody that is more of a pass-catcher than a blocker. Like former teammate Jordan Cameron in Cleveland. Dulcich is precisely that kind of tight end. He threatened defenses down the field a lot for the Bruins, averaging 17.6 yards per reception. His 1,242 yards and ten touchdowns in 18 games over the past two years showcased how dangerous he can be.
There’s a reason why Cincinnati is ranked No. 2 in AP poll—they’re loaded with #NFL talent. Physical safety Bryan Cook is an ascending prospect. Checkout the strike & drive on this 🔨 rep vs. UCF. Plenty of @seniorbowl invites headed up to @GoBearcatsFB. #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE™️ https://t.co/XAxVfgagKj pic.twitter.com/KWSnPO5Dwp
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) October 19, 2021
Defensive coordinator Alan Williams = Bryan Cook, S, Cincinnati
Williams is a defensive back specialist and has always spent time around great safeties. It started with John Lynch in Tampa Bay, Bob Sanders in Indianapolis, and Harrison Smith in Minnesota. All three were smart, instinctive, and physical enforcers—something the Chicago Bears haven’t had at that position in years. Cook is the poster child for that kind of player. He was around the football constantly for the Bearcats, delivering some great hits and showcasing his intelligence by always being around the ball. In coverage or on the ground, it didn’t matter. There is no escaping Cook’s presence.
Defensive line coach Travis Smith = Perrion Winfrey, DT, Oklahoma
Smith learned during his time under the tutelage of Rod Marinelli that the best defensive linemen tend to have three key qualities. Quickness, violent hands, and a non-stop motor. Maxx Crosby is a perfect example of that. So is Winfrey. People will point to his modest production at Oklahoma (5 sacks in 2021), but the tape tells a different story. The defensive tackle was never used properly. When allowed to get up the field shooting gaps, he is at his best. That is why he dominated guys at the Super Bowl. His intensity was infectious. If the Bears want a three-technique interior pass rusher, they could do a lot worse than him.
This is the kind of stuff that gets my attention.
Perrion Winfrey eats, drinks, and breathes football.
Beats the OG once. Calls him back to the line for another rep. Beats him again.
He’s becoming a favorite of mine.#Bears pic.twitter.com/doHvseJo3h
— Erik Lambert (@ErikLambert1) February 6, 2022
Linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi = Jeremiah Gemmel, LB, North Carolina
People will immediately go to Darius Leonard as the example Borgonzi will seek. Rightfully so. That said, the young coach also worked with the likes of Lavonte David and Kwon Alexander in Tampa Bay. The common thread between all of those guys? Speed and instincts. They must be able to cover lots of ground and understand where they’re supposed to be at all times. Gemmel exemplifies those traits. He has plenty of speed to play sideline-to-sideline and is a clear film junkie from how he is constantly able to anticipate where the ball is going. There are size concerns at 6’1, but that won’t be a massive issue in this new Chicago Bears defense.
Defensive backs coach James Rowe = Zyon McCollum, CB, Sam Houston State
A few things have become apparent with Rowe as a coach. He never fears a challenge when it comes to taking a chance on a small school prospect. Nor does size seem to matter. If a cornerback is fast, athletic, and can take the ball away, the foundation is in place for a really good player. He helped prove that with Jimmy Moreland out of James Madison in 2019 and Kenny Moore from Valdosta State. McCollum has been a terror in the FCS. He finished his career with 13 interceptions, six forced fumbles, and two defensive touchdowns. On top of that, he’s 6’2 with fluid athleticism. He would probably be a 1st round pick if he came from a bigger program.
Post Views: 1,215