Bears Blitz

Published by Bryan Dietzler on April 29, 2011
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

Watching the 2011 NFL Draft in the friendly confines of Soldier Field was certainly a new experience for this writer. Having decided to attend the Bears’ 2011 NFL Draft party this Friday night at Soldier Field, it certainly was interesting to see the fans’ reaction as the Bears’ second and third round picks were made. We also got to hear from Bears general manager Jerry Angelo after the picks and got to hear a little bit of his insight into what the Bears thought of their picks.

The Bears’ first pick of the night (on the second round) was Oregon State defensive tackle Stephen Paea. This was someone that several people had felt that the Bears might make a run at but no one thought would have made it that late in the second round. Paea is an excellent fit for the Bears because of his size (he stands 6’1″ and weighs 304 pounds) and his ability to play in the Bears’ style of defense where they like smaller, quicker and stronger players. 

Fans may remember that Paea has a whopping 49 reps in the bench press at the combine, so the Bears know that they are getting a strong player who should contribute in that defensive tackle rotation right away.

The Bears acquired Paea after making a trade with the Washington Redskins. They ended up moving up in the draft take Paea, trading their 62nd pick in the second round for the Redskins 53rd pick in that same round. Chicago gave up that second-round pick and their fourth-round pick (127th overall) in order to move up.

The fan reaction at the Bears draft party was positive when they selected Paea and overall Bears fans told the Angelo when he appeared via web chat that they were happy with the picks that the Bears had made thus far. Remember, their first-round pick, offensive tackle Gabe Carimi, was a pick of need and could be a solid starter for them next season.

Angelo said of Paea that the Bears were happy when they saw him there and moved up to get him thinking that someone ahead of them may end up taking him before they had a chance to grab him.

Remember that this was a similar scenario that the Bears encountered on Thursday night with Carimi but botched a trade with the Ravens in an effort to move up. The Bears could have still lost that fourth-round pick (as part of that first-round deal) to the Ravens but ended up trading it away to Washington to get Paea. 

With the Bears’ third selection in the draft, they went defense once again and chose California safety Chris Conte. With the possibility that Danieal Manning may be headed out of Chicago to go along with the lack of depth at the position, the Bears decided to make their move here and take a guy that many had rated as the seventh best safety in the 2011 NFL Draft. 

Certainly this one was a bit of a head-scratcher and Bears fans at the draft party were wondering just why the Bears would select a safety this high and one that was as untested as Conte. Conte comes to the Bears without a lot of experience but is very productive, strong and a sure tackler, but all of that came in one season.

Depth is what the Bears brass had to say in reaction to the pick of Conte. There is always a need for depth and they went that route with this pick.

Without a fourth-round pick tomorrow, the Bears have just a fifth- and a sixth-round pick left (they gave up their seventh-round pick in last year’s supplemental draft, taking running back Harvey Unga) so tomorrow will be a light day for the Bears.

As far as the Bears draft party went, the fans attending the party were treated to some expert advice by Tom Thayer, Jay Hilgenberg and Jeff Joniak during the evening, along with some discussion from Bears management.

On the heels of a new ruling in the NFL lockout case that will reinstate the lockout fans seemed to be upset about the lack of football and the lack of a decision being made about the lockout. Fans voiced their frustration by asking questions about the lockout and demanding a return to football.

Tomorrow, Bears fans will be allowed to ask questions of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell via web chat and you can bet that most people will ask him about the NFL lockout.

Stay tuned for more on the Bears draft and more from the 2011 Chicago Bears Fan Expo tomorrow night.

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