Did a Major Problem Get The Wright Fix?

Among the Chicago Bears' Major needs since they hosted the 2006 Super Bowl is the safety position.  The defensive mindset and focus of this team over the years make safety an essential position to Lovie's chaos creating defensive approach.  Without the right guy or guys back there, the rest of the team struggles when competing against competent quarterbacks and coaching schemes. 

With a record of 23-25 in the 3 years following the '06 season, could it be that the Super Bowl hang over turned hibernation is coming to an end? "I'm ready to play, no doubt about that.  I don't feel like there's anybody who could get in my way. I'm ready to play on the next level." Spoken by the huge (6'8" 335lbs)OT J'Marcus Webb moments after the Bears selected him 218th overall. That will have to be the team's attitude; taken right from this rookie.     

Bears GM Jerry Angelo was supposed to be settling for guys in this draft.  Someone that was serviceable enough to at least dress for the game or make it to Sunday or something like that. Yet, it appears, if Julius Peppers was the most prized free agent the Bears could land based on need and availability, then Major Wright must be at least the equivalent of that in the 2010 draft for the Bears. No one would disagree Wright is a great 1st pick for a team without a 1st or 2nd rounder.  Overall, the analysts grade the draft as B for the Bears http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/11961/scanning-kipers-draft-grades and some new sort of draft evaluation grades the Bears as 18th out of the 32 teams.  http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/11980/nfc-north-draft-rankings-from-scouts-inc  Many seem to imply the Bears exceeded expectations.  I guess to pick a guy 75th overall who most believe could start this season says something. 

Lovie said,"You hate to talk about a rookie being one of the starters right away… he is our first draft pick this year and we are expecting big things from him. I think it is safe to say that."  Well, its also safe to say, from the highlights, Major Wright http://rivals.yahoo.com/video/recruiting-football/Major-Wright-Fort-Laude-20431;_ylt=AlBNo716sf.5PvAHif_HrwsueJR4  is a playmaker; a punisher that sniffs out the ball and hits with an Atwater/Ronnie Lott type of violence.  "Safety was one of the positions we targeted to improve our ballclub," Smith said. "He (S Major Wright) is going to bring a lot of energy to our defense, has good skills as far as coverage is concerned." 

The safety position produced a grand total of 1 interception last season as they tried 5 different players at that free safety spot to get something going.  Translation:  Wright will probably start at safety.  DE Corey Wootton once recorded 10 sacks as a junior at Northwestern before going on to tear the ACL, MCL, and meniscus in his right knee in the Alamo Bowl in 2008.  Wootton finished up with a decorated career at NU.            OT J'Marcus Webb, who also played in 12 games as a true freshman in Texas, should be able to develop nicely under Mike Tice whatwith his size and man-handling tendencies. http://rivals.yahoo.com/video/recruiting-football/JMarcus-Webb-Mesquite-20627;_ylt=AnUtHarSLd3XmJovqEe3NslHPZB4  Speaking of Webb, Jerry Angelo said, "We will just wait and see until we get to camp and get the pads on the kind of quality player he is."  Yup, the 'old wait and see' that Angelo hits us with so much.            "We pretty much stayed with the plan that I outlined to you," Angelo said. "We were able to do that with our third, fourth and fifth picks," (1. S Major Wright, 2 DE Corey Wootton, 3 CB Joshua Moore)  "and we felt good about that."

Don't be too surprised if the pick everyone is talking about 3 or 4 years from now is the home-grown QB Dan LeFevour.  Boy he sure has the name of a winning quarterback.  This may also be the point to mention his 149 touchdowns in college.  I believe thats a record; something like the most ever but you'll have to check that out for yourself.  Maybe in a few years the chants will be for LeFevour?

Anyway, Lovie Angelo I mean Jerry Smith., you know, the crew, will be fun to watch, even if painfully so, and I like Lovie too much to wish anything but great success.  The coaching staff they should have put together after the Super Bowl lost is now in place.  The long coveted quarterback is now in place. The chips appear to be settling. Now its time to get some more depth, the right type of players that fit. And I must end by saying good job Chicago Bears as a Bears fan for a successful offseason so far.  Great job of doing homework and letting luck or whatever else happened happen.