Bears need dramatic upgrade at wide receiver
According to the Chicago Sun Times, the Bears are giving former third round pick Earl Bennett every opportunity to start at wide receiver opposite Devin Hester this season. Bennett, mind you, is the same dropped-prone receiver who didn’t catch one pass last year because he was inactive for seven of the 16 games and couldn’t beat out stalwarts Marty Booker, Rashied Davis and Brandon Lloyd on the depth chart.
The Bears need to do something about their receiving corps and soon. Torry Holt has lost a step, but he would be an instant upgrade at the position and could serve as a tutor for guys like Hester and Bennett. Holt is apparently out of the country right now on vacation and won’t be visiting teams for the next couple days, but the Bears would be wise to get the 32-year old’s agent on the phone, like, now.
The draft is also littered with receivers and while I certainly don’t advocate the Bears taking one in the first round (everything GM Jerry Angelo touches in the first round turns to rabbit turd anyway), prospects like Hakeem Nicks (North Carolina) and Brian Robiskie (Ohio State) should be there in the second.
I had a chance to watch the scouting combine on the NFL Network in February and Robiskie was impressive. Out of all the receivers who worked out, Robiskie seemed to run the smoothest routes and was very fluid in his motions. He’s not the fastest prospsect (his 40 is a good but not great 4.51), but Robiskie is the son of an NFL assistant (Falcons’ wide receiver coach Terry Robiskie), so you know he’s received a fair amount of coaching throughout his playing career. The Ohio State product looks like one of the more polished receiver prospects in the draft.
Whatever route the Bears want to take in acquiring a receiver doesn’t matter. But they dramatically need to upgrade the position this offseason because I highly doubt Hester and Bennett give quarterback Kyle Orton the best chance of succeeding.
Anthony,
Couldn’t agree with you more. I think going after Holt (or even Harrison for that matter) would be great for both the player/coach aspect and a veteran WR prescence who is a stand-up guy. Furthermore, I think the draft pick(s) at WR for the Bears this year will depend heavily on if they really think Bennett is going to start. Out of the available rookie class, I also see Robiske as probably the most NFL-ready WR. I like Nicks’ ability but he and most of the other prospects may take more than a while to develop; with an aging defense, the Bears don’t have much of that time. I think if they go more project-type WR then it’s rebuilding time for sure.
how can you say that about Angelo, look at….
and… then theres….
A line and a TRUE #1 reciever. QB has never been
the issue.
I have to say that if you want the WR, he’s going to have to be taken in the 1st round. I know that’s tough to hear from the team that picked Chris Williams last year while Branden Albert sat on the board, but Nicks will be gone, and Robiskie is the most polished of the WR’s, and probably gone by your 2nd round pick as well. Remember, the Lions draft twice between your 1st and 2nd rounders!
Upgrade???? Anthony, you must be kidding. The Bears’ receiving corps is non-existent. You can’t upgrade something that does not appear to exist. They must make an effort to get Holt and anyone in the draft who can run a route and catch a ball…….The Bears offense is bad enough without having no receivers……but don’t worry, Jerry Angelo will screw things up again. That’s a sure thing.
Sir Raschke. I would agree for Nicks, but I think Robiskie should be around for the Bears 2nd rd pick. Although, as you’ve pointed out so painfully for us Bear die-hards, they’ll probably go a strange route with both of those guys still on the board and pick some unknown out of a D-3 school. Although I guess it’s better than having a guy drafted who can’t play cause he’s in the armed services….c’mon D-town!
Ouch! Well played DougE… Bears take Pettigrew with their 1st and best MLB available in the 2nd, nothing like beefing up and providing depth at your strengths.
Is it true?
I hear they are upgrading for when Vick gets out? They need to get somebody to throw to, dam dogs won’t fetch it anymore..
Makes sense to me….Hell they gave us Obama and Bladgovich…why not throw Vick at us next….
Go Bears
Richie D that sounds racist