NFL Team Report – Chicago Bears – INSIDE SLANT
The Chicago Bears needed defensive help in virtually any form after an historically bad season, so cornerback Kyle Fuller’s selection in Thursday’s NFL draft with the 14th pick in Round 1 fit a need — even if it was more of a longer-term need.
The Virginia Tech player became the first cornerback taken by the Bears in Round 1 since Walt Harris in 1996, but safety or defensive tackle seemed more pressing needs because they already have 30-something veterans Charles Tillman and Tim Jennings under contract for next year at corner.
This led to speculation Fuller could be headed for a position switch, something the Bears have had to do this year with general manager Phil Emery’s initial first-round draft pick Shea McClellin.
Emery nipped that one in the bud almost immediately.
“He is a corner,” Emery said of Fuller. “That’s how we see him.
“He’s a guy who we saw has a lot of versatility in coverage.”
Fuller also made it clear he’s not moving.
“I actually haven’t played safety,” he said. “As far as that, being able to line up, I am tough, physical and can come up and tackle. I haven’t played it but I played corner and nickel and feel I can do that.”
Fuller played 14 games at nickel back at Virginia Tech, which is part of his versatility. Still, that could be enough to get him on the field as a rookie because nickel back is an uncertain area for the Bears, as well.
Last year’s starter, Kelvin Hayden, went down with a season-ending hamstring injury in preseason, and rookie Isaiah Frey played the spot all year without making an interception. So the opportunity is there for Fuller to step onto the field with the nickel coverage unit.
“We expect him to contribute his first year, and obviously as time (goes on) be a starter,” Emery said.
Besides nickel back, Fuller could also fit in as a key special teams player. Bears coaches had him ranked one of the highest special teams players on the board.
“This is a player with length, with skill, athleticism, versatility, productivity, and beyond that the better part is he’s even a great person,” Emery said.
Fuller had a vertical leap of 38 1/2 inches. He ran a 4.49-second 40 at the combine, but there are questions about his strength after he did just 12 reps in the bench press. He had a sports hernia that cost him four games last year, but said he was “100 percent” at the combine.
The Bears also like Fuller’s pedigree. The 5-foot-11 1/2, 192-pounder is one of four Fuller brothers to play for Virginia Tech, and the third to go into the NFL. His oldest brother, Vincent, lettered for the Hokies from 2001-2004 and played parts of seven years in the NFL with Tennessee and Detroit. His other brother, Corey, is with Detroit and is a wide receiver, but has yet to play in a game.
“It means a lot in terms of how he presents himself as a professional, in understanding what professionalism means in the NFL,” Emery said.
When defensive tackle Aaron Donald went to the St. Louis Rams one pick ahead of the Bears, it mean they would probably be looking at a player in the secondary. Emery said three of the six players they had singled out as potential first-round picks were still there when they picked, including Fuller.
Emery said little was brewing on the trade front, either.
“When New York (Giants) turned in their pick, I said, ‘we’re not moving anywhere, we’re going to get a really good player,’ ” Emery said.
The Bears defense has changed somewhat since Marc Trestman became head coach, but the emphasis remains zone.
“The defense that I played with at Virginia Tech prepared me (for that) as well,” Fuller said.
The Bears have said defense is a priority and tackle and safety or linebacker are possibilities in the second and third rounds Friday.
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NFL Team Report – Chicago Bears – NOTES, QUOTES
–Not only are the Bears going to avoid moving first-round draft pick, cornerback Kyle Fuller, to safety, but they won’t be moving veteran cornerback Charles Tillman to safety, either.
For years that move has been a popular myth among Bears fans, but moving a 33-year-old corner who has had injuries and may only have a year or two left isn’t very good policy.
“You can rule that out 100 percent,” Emery said. “You don’t even have to finish your question. Charles Tillman is our starting corner and that’s where he’s going to be.”
–Fourth-round running back selection Ka’Deem Carey not only has to outrun tacklers, but his past. He had been charged with misdemeanor assault and disorderly conduct following an incident with his girlfriend, but the charges were later dropped after he pled not guilty. After that incident, he was thrown out of a basketball game after a confrontation with campus security.
“It’s in the past, it’s something you have to learn from,” he said. He described himself now as “… a loveful cat.”
–It’s apparent the Bears still believe the defensive line can make the deep secondary and not the other way around. Taking a pair of defensive tackles — Will Sutton of Arizona State and Ego Ferguson of LSU — instead of a safety in the second round showed this much.
“You have to have players who are capable of controlling the run on the inside,” Emery said. “The front determines the game, in terms of controlling the run and putting pressure on the passer and that’s why we went defensive tackle back-to-back in the second and third rounds.
“I believe we were 32nd on average rush and 32nd against the run. So, everything we’ve done is to get as many tough, physical players up to this point, on this team, that can help us accomplish those goals – to stop the run and apply pressure on the passer.”
Third-round pick Sutton bulked up to 309 pounds for his senior year, after playing around 270 as a junior. He needed the weight for a role that had him taking on multiple blockers, but Emery said he wants the three-technique tackle at “285-295.” Sutton is already down to 290, so he’s in the right range.
–When the Bears drafted Ferguson, Sutton figured he’d be going anywhere but Chicago. “But then they got me in the third round so I bet they think that us two can make a good tandem together,” Sutton said. “Either he plays nose and I play 3 tech or vice-versa; whatever they want us to play. I feel like us two can come in and really do some damage.”
Sutton looks like the 3 and Ferguson the nose, initially.
–The Bears normally carry nine defensive linemen on the roster, but that could increase to 10 after drafting two tackles early and revamping the entire D-line. Emery last year admitted not providing enough defensive line depth was one of his biggest mistakes, so 10 linemen might be the best way to go.
“I think it’s real important to us, obviously with what happened to us last year and the depth issue,” he said. “To solve that issue, you’ve got give a little bit in terms of your roster numbers.”
–The Bears and Northern Illinois’ quarterback Jordan Lynch reached agreement on an undrafted free agent deal. But Emery wasn’t necessarily enamored with the Heisman candidate’s arm. So it sounds like they could find a unique role for him in the offense.
“I think he’s a really fine runner,” Emery said. “I think the fact he can throw and throw with accuracy in a short area is good, too.
“I think you want as many athletes who can do as many things as possible and he certainly presents options that way.”
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NFL Team Report – Chicago Bears – STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
A closer look at the Bears’ picks:
Round 1/14 — Kyle Fuller, CB, 6-0, 192, Virginia Tech
–Graded by the Bears as the top cornerback in the draft, he was tabbed as an eventual replacement for Charles Tillman and Tim Jennings while being an understudy this year as a nickel corner and special teams contributor. Fuller played “inverted safety” and nickel besides playing cornerback at Virginia Tech. The drafting of Fuller, who can line up as a slot defensive back, came after some close analysis of offenses the Bears face regularly in the NFC North.
“Look at our division, we’ve got to line up against three (wide receivers) so much during the season – that’s 11 personnel – it’s a lot of what we see,” coach Marc Trestman said. “We’ve got some tremendous offensive players throughout this division.
“Certainly Kyle gives us the versatility because he can play inside and outside and cover so much of the types of players we’re seeing; the big player, the long player, now the (Eric) Ebrons of the World and certainly the three-wide receiver sets we see throughout the division.”
Round 2/51 — Ego Ferguson, DT, 6-3, 315, Louisiana State
–Ferguson is considered a raw, talented player after leaving LSU a year early for the draft because of family concerns. His mother, who worked as a guard in a detention center, had been injured on the job and found it difficult to work. He had a bit of a checkered past after missing the final game of his college career in the Outback Bowl because of a team rule violation. Ferguson is a powerful player who was given the assignment of taking up blockers as a weak-side defensive end for LSU. He had 85 career tackles and one sack, incuding 58 tackles his final year.
“I went back to his game against Alabama, his game against Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Georgia and nobody could run the ball against him inside at all,” GM Phil Emery said. “He is a very strong, very powerful young man. I wanted to see where he was at rush-wise and in each one of those games he had four or five power rushes where he disrupted the quarterback.”
Round 3/82 — Will Sutton, DT, 6-1, 303, Arizona State
–A natural under tackle who will be tried at that spot in the Bears defense, he went from 270 pounds to 309 pounds and now back to 290. As a bigger player, his assignment was occupying blockers. When his weight was down, he was attacking up the field. Sutton finished with 20.5 sacks and 45.5 tackles for loss. He was chosen the Pat Tillman Award winner as Pac-12 defensive player of the year as a junior, when at a lighter weight he made 13 sacks and 23 1/2 tackles for loss.
Round 4/117 — Ka’Deem Carey, RB, 5-10, 207, Arizona
–A hard runner who lacks breakaway speed but was extremely durable and productive. Carey was Pac-12 offensive player of the year in 2013 with 1,885 rushing yards on 349 carries. He finished four years with 4,239 yards on 743 carries, averaging 5.7 yards. He’ll fit in as Matt Forte’s backup and possibly get short-yardage assignments. It’s the role Michael Bush had last year before being cut for salary cap purposes.
Round 4/131 — Brock Vereen, S, 5-11 1/2, 199, Minnesota
Played every position in the secondary for the Golden Gophers and made 11 of his 13 starts as a senior at free safety. Figures to challenge for either starting free safety or strong safety. He impressed in predraft workouts and the combine, especially in the bench press. He had 25 repetitions in the bench at 225 pounds, most for any defensive back at the combine, but also had the second-fastest 40-yard dash time (4.47) and second-fastest shuttle time along safeties. His brother is Patriots running back Shane Vereen and his father, Henry, was a ninth-round draft pick by the Bucs in 1979.
Round 6/183 — David Fales, QB, 6-2, 228, San Jose State
–He is expected to come in and compete with Jerrod Johnson for developmental quarterback behind backup Jordan Palmer. He led the NCAA in completion percentage as a junior (.725) after transferring from junior college. He’d originally committed to Nevada but left after his freshman year because an offense that greatly utilized the running of Colin Kaepernick did not fit his skills. A big arm hasn’t been his calling card, but accuracy has, and he threw for 66 touchdowns in two seasons with San Jose State. He completed 68 percent in two seasons.
Round 6/191 — Pat O’Donnell, P, 6-4, 220, Miami
–The Bears needed a punter after Adam Podlesh was dispatched. They had only Drew Butler and Tress Way on the roster. O’Donnell played his final year at Miami after he graduated from Cincinnati and still had one year of eligibility left. He is known as an athletic punter after running a 4.64 40-yard dash and did 23 reps with 225 pounds in the bench press — almost twice as many as the team’s first-round pick, Fuller. He caused a fumble with a hit last year, which reinforced his reputation. As a senior at Miami, his 47.1-yard average was a school record and almost 3 1/2 yards longer than his previous best. He also can kick off and hold for the placekicker.
Round 7/246 — Charles Leno Jr., T, 6-4, 302, Boise State
–Started every game his final three seasons, the last two at left tackle. He is regarded by many personnel people as a guard candidate, not a tackle, but he does have the arm length of a tackle at 34 1/2 inches. He has decent speed out of his stance when pulling to block. The aim will be to develop him. Emery said he will be immediate competition for backup left tackle. Also, Jordan Mills struggled as a pass blocker at right tackle and frequently got help from extra tackle Eben Britton in a six-lineman formation. So if he learns quickly, it’s not unreasonable for him to challenge for a starting spot. Leno also has guard experience.
PERSONNEL TRACKER
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers)
–S Anthony Walters (not tendered as ERFA) might be brought back at a minimum salary as free agency progresses.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
–LB James Anderson has drawn no interest from the team. The move of Shea McClellin to the strong side, with second-year linebacker Khaseem Greene already there, makes it a crowded spot. And the Bears are looking at Jonathan Bostic now as a future outside linebacker as opposed to a MIKE.
–DT Landon Cohen has had no interest. With Nate Collins and Jeremiah Ratliff returning, Cohen would only be added as camp competition. He struggled last year after signing on and being thrust into starting time due to injuries.
–LB Blake Costanzo appears to be done in Chicago, although other teams may find use for him as a special teams player. He didn’t provide depth for the defense as a special teams player only.
–LS Patrick Mannelly’s return to the Bears will depend on whether he wants to come back and whether general manager Emery believes he can continue to play on punt coverage without being a liability at age 39.
–T Jonathan Scott was inactive all last season and won’t be back after the team found tackle help elsewhere.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGNETS: None.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
–T/G Eben Britton: UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
–DT Nate Collins: Potential UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
–QB Jay Cutler: Potential UFA; $126.7M/7 yrs, $54M guaranteed.
–C Robert Garza: Potential UFA; $1.5M/1 yr, $100,000 SB.
–K Robbie Gould: Potential UFA; $15M/4 yrs, $3M SB/$8.85M guaranteed.
–CB Kelvin Hayden: Potential UFA; $855,000/1 yr.
–CB Tim Jennings: Potential UFA; $22.4M/4 yrs, $3M SB/$11.8M guaranteed.
–CB Sherrick McManis: UFA; $730,000/1 yr.
–QB Jordan Palmer: Potential UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
–DT Jeremiah Ratliff: Potential UFA; $4M/2 yrs, $600,000 SB.
–TE Dante Rosario: FA; terms unknown.
–G Matt Slauson: Potential UFA; $12.8M/4 yrs, $1.67M SB/$4.9M guaranteed.
–S Craig Steltz: UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
–CB Charles Tillman: UFA; $3.25M/1 yr, $500,000 SB.
–LB D.J. Williams: UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
–DE Jared Allen: UFA Vikings; $32M/4 yrs, $15.5M guaranteed.
–WR Josh Bellamy (waivers Redskins).
–C Brian de la Puente: UFA Saints; 1 yr, terms unknown.
–DE Lamarr Houston: UFA Raiders; $35M/5 yrs, $4.95M SB/$15M guaranteed.
–WR Domenik Hixon: UFA Panthers; 1 yr, terms unknown.
–DE Israel Idonije: UFA Lions; $955,000/1 yr.
–S M.D. Jennings: Not tendered as RFA by Packers; terms unknown.
–S Danny McCray: UFA Cowboys; 1 yr, terms unknown.
–TE Zach Miller: FA; $645,000/1 yr.
–WR Josh Morgan: UFA Redskins; 1 yr, terms unknown.
–TE Matthew Mulligan: UFA Patriots; 1 yr, terms unknown.
–S Ryan Mundy: UFA Giants; $3M/2 yrs, $650,000 SB.
–TE Fendi Onobun: FA; $1.23M/2 yrs.
–DE Trevor Scott: FA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
–LB Jordan Senn: UFA Panthers; $795,000/1 yr.
–DE Willie Young: UFA Lions; $9M/3 yrs, $2M SB/$3.95M guaranteed.
PLAYERS LOST
–WR Earl Bennett (released).
–CB Zack Bowman: UFA Giants; terms unknown.
–RB Michael Bush (released).
–KR Devin Hester: UFA Falcons; 3 yrs, terms unknown.
–QB Josh McCown: UFA Buccaneers; $10M/2 yrs.
–DT Henry Melton: UFA Cowboys; $27.5M/4 yrs, $1.25M SB ($24M is in final three years).
–DE Julius Peppers (released).
–P Adam Podlesh (released).
–DE Corey Wootton: UFA Vikings; $1.5M/1 yr, $400,000 SB.
–S Major Wright: UFA Buccaneers; 1 yr, terms unknown.
