"With the 22nd overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears select...Rex Grossman, Quarterback, Florida."
Fast forward 5 years to the 2008 Draft. "With the 14th overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears select...Chris Williams, Offensive Tackle, Vanderbilt."
Leading up to this year's draft most mock drafts had the Bears selecting Pittsburgh's Jeff Otah or possibly even Boise State's Ryan Clady with the 14th overall pick.
This was no doubt based on the fact that Chicago ranked 31st in the NFL in yards per carry, during the 2007 season. Both Ryan Clady and Jeff Otah are pounding run blockers, and it would seem obvious for a team that prides itself in "getting off the bus running" to select a lineman that could improve their running game.
False.
The Bears, instead, took a finesse left tackle, Chris Williams. What message is this sending? Chicago wants to throw the football. Their running game was non-existent last year and as a result, they had to find some other way to move the football.
So who will Williams be protecting next year? Rex Grossman, the Bears' first round selection from 2003.
He's never gotten a chance to live up to his full potential. Why? Because he's never had a decent offensive line. I read that the Bears O-line gives their quarterback, whoever it may be, an average of only two seconds to deliver the football.
Grossman isn't a scrambling quarterback, he never was and he never will be. He's a pocket passer that, when given time, is deadly accurate and always a threat to go deep.
With the addition of Chris Williams, Grossman will finally be given a chance. Bears fans all over the country nearly kicked over their TVs when the draft was over, because their beloved team still had not picked a quarterback.
I too was a bit disappointed at first but after thinking it through, became very excited for what next year will bring for Chicago.
I believe we will see an even better version of Rex than we saw during the first half of the 2006 season.
2008, the year of Rex and Williams.
7 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Jimmy Mac about 1 year ago
you're DAMN right! I can't wait for Rex to blow away his critics now that he'll have a younger, stronger line.
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Jimmy Mac about 1 year ago
You're DAMN right! Can't wait for Rex to shut his critics up now that he's got a decent line to play behind!
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Harish Sriram about 1 year ago
woah. I am a Bears fan and deeply offended!
I question your correctness. ESPN people even say the Bears had the best draft, or rated it a B. So I really dont know why you dont like the Bears draft. Even ESPN hated the Chicago Bears, yet you are more ill-willed towards them. Stop writing about things in which you have no idea what you are talking about. Chris Williams was projected to be the 2nd or 3rd best LT and the top 2 best "plug right in" LTs. In a passing NFL, why take a non-NFL ready LT who run blocks over a NFL ready pass blocking LT? We didnt pick up a dumb ass QB either. Why do that since most of the ones left (after actually filling in needs) were dumb asses? Also, most of the later round picks used to be 1-2 round picks.
Dont upset the Bear!!!!!!
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Harish Sriram about 1 year ago
^^^not meant to be posted here. other bears place. lol
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David Thomas about 1 year ago
haha, ok, i was about to blow up on you, haha, thanks for clearing that up
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Rick Diaz about 1 year ago
What makes ya'll think its gonna be the Gross man throwin' the ball for the Bears. Last I heard Orton had the inside track on that job. Grossman is a chicken. He'll have happy feet no matter who's blocking for him. I doesn't matter how good a dog can hunt if it's gun shy.
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Harish Sriram about 1 year ago
I remember the days were grossman was fast......damn, that was a while ago!
But he is physically more talented than Orton
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