Breaking down Angelo’s draft picks for Bears
By Bob LeGere
rlegere@dailyherald.com
The Bears fired general manager Jerry Angelo on Tuesday, and here’s a look at each of his NFL draft classes along with my comment on the player’s impact:
2002
1. OT Marc Colombo: Injured as Bear but became starter in Dallas.
3a. CB Roosevelt Williams: Bust who lasted just one year
3b. OG Terrence Metcalf: 7-year backup struggled as starter
4a. DE Alex Brown: Long-time solid starter
5a. S Bobby Gray: Stuck for a while as big hitter
5b. LB Bryan Knight: Lasted 2 years, made no impact
6a. RB Adrian Peterson: Solid backup, special teams star
6b. WR Jamin Elliott: Marginal NFL player at best
6c. TE Bryan Fletcher: Practice squad for 1 year
2003
1a. DL Michael Haynes: Classic example of a bust
1b. QB Rex Grossman: Got Bears to Super Bowl; Redskins starter
2. CB Charles Tillman: Long-time starter, now a Pro Bowler
3. LB Lance Briggs: Selected to 7 straight Pro Bowls
4a. S Todd Johnson: Backup for several years
4b. DT Ian Scott: Role player for a couple years
5a. WR Bobby Wade: 8-year career, 3 with Bears
5b. WR Justin Gage: Occasional starter for Bears, Titans
5c. DT Tron LaFavor: Lasted one year
6a. LB Joe Odom: Looked like Tarzan, played like Jane
6b. RB Brock Forsey: Brief starter in short career
7. OG Bryan Anderson: College starter, NFL washout
2004
1. DT Tommie Harris: Injuries derailed 3-time Pro Bowler
2. DT Tank Johnson: Solid starter with off-field problems
3. WR Bernard Berrian: 2 productive years as deep threat
4a. CB Nate Vasher: Spectacular in ’05; mediocre otherwise
4b. LB Leon Joe: That dog won’t hunt
5a. DE Claude Harriott: Blink and you missed his “career”
5b. QB Craig Krenzel: Superior intellect; inferior player
7. CB Alfonso Marshall: Lasted 1 year as special teams guy
2005
1. RB Cedric Benson: Multiple 1,000-yard seasons – in Cincy
2. WR Mark Bradley: He thought he was a star; no one agreed
4. QB Kyle Orton: Part of Cutler trade; still serviceable starter
5. WR Airese Currie: Track star whose career went up in smoke
6. S Chris Harris: Physical hitter; starter in 2 stints with Bears
7. LB Rod Wilson: Solid special teams player
2006
2a. S Danieal Manning: Star returner never as good as his tools
2b. WR Devin Hester: Best all-time KR; disappointing as WR
3. DT Dusty Dvoracek: Flashed talent but injuries took toll
4. LB Jamar Williams: Special-teamer and fringe backup
5. DE Mark Anderson: Never matched 12-sack rookie season
6a. RB J.D. Runnels: Hurt a lot; played very little
6b. OG Tyler Reed: Looked and played like a furniture mover
2007
1. TE Greg Olsen: Productive receiver, traded to Panthers
2. DE Dan Bazuin: Bust who couldn’t overcome injuries
3a. RB Garrett Wolfe: Biggest contributions were on S-T
3b. LB Michael Okwo: Couldn’t play a lick
4. OG Josh Beekman: Failed in only season as a starter
5a. S Kevin Payne: Great in ’08, then he disappeared
5b. CB Corey Graham: Pro Bowl special-teamer, solid backup
7a. CB Trumaine McBride: Enjoyed some early success
7b. OT Aaron Brant: Never even got his feet wet
2008
1. OL Chris Williams: Marginal starter ended season on I.R.
2. RB Matt Forte: Pro Bowler; Angelo’s best offensive pick
3a. WR Earl Bennett: Solid possession guy has shown flashes
3c. DT Marcus Harrison: Fat and lazy no way to go through life
4. S Craig Steltz: Coming off best season, started last 4 games
5a. CB Zack Bowman: Starter in ’09 played way out of lineup
5c. TE Kellen Davis: Strong blocker led team with 5 TD catches
7a. DE Ervin Baldwin: Good college pass rusher who flopped
7b. OG Chester Adams: One of many OL’s lacking in NFL talent
7c. LB Joey LaRocque: Brief stay as special teamer
7d. OT Kirk Barton: See Chester Adams
7e. WR Marcus Monk: Better basketball player
2009
3b. DT Jarron Gilbert: Better in pool than on field
3c. WR Juaquin Iglesias: Good college player lacked special skills
4a. DT Henry Melton: Coming off breakout season with 7 sacks
4b. CB D.J. Moore: Valuable, little nickel guy makes big plays
5a. WR Johnny Knox: Big-play guy must overcome back injury
5b. LB Marcus Freeman: Smart guy who couldn’t play
6. S Al Afalava: Flavor of the month who quickly fizzled
7b. OL Lance Louis: 2011 ORT starter who belongs at OG
7c. WR Derek Kinder: Big and physical, but not very good
2010
3. S Major Wright: Hurt a lot; hasn’t put it all together yet
4. DE Corey Wootton: Hasn’t done much; make or break in 2012
5. CB Joshua Moore: Practice squadder running out of time
6. QB Dan LeFevour: Should’ve kept him instead of Caleb Hanie
7. OT J’Marcus Webb: OLT starter had ups and downs in 2011
2011
1. OT Gabe Carimi: Looked like real deal until knee injury
2. DT Stephen Paea: Showed flashes but needs to do more
3. S Chris Conte: Ankle injury derailed promising season
5. QB Nathan Enderle: Never got a chance but could move up
6. LB J.T. Thomas: Latest in long line of LB’s who can’t play
7. RB Harvey Unga: Harvey, we hardly knew ye.