Bears GM candidate productive in Chiefs’ drafts
Kansas City Chiefs director of college scouting Phil Emery became the fifth and possibly final candidate to interview for the Bears’ general manager job on Friday.
Emery was preceded by Patriots director of pro personnel Jason Licht, Chargers director of player personnel Jimmy Raye III, Giants director of college scouting Marc Ross and Bears director of player personnel Tim Ruskell. The Bears have not announced any other candidates, although they have not ruled out adding any in the future.
Emery joins Ruskell as the only candidates with direct ties to the organization. He began his 14-year NFL career as an area scout for the Bears from 1998-2004.
He has been the Chiefs’ director of college scouting for the last three years after holding the same position with the Atlanta Falcons from 2004-08. Although Chiefs’ GM Scott Pioli runs the Kansas City draft, Emery has significant input, and their past two drafts have been extremely productive.
Of the 16 players selected, five were starters and 10 were backups at the beginning of the 2011 season. However, starting tight end Tony Moeaki and backup defensive end Gabe Miller spent the entire season on injured reserve, and starting safety Eric Berry played just one game before landing on the I.R. list.
In addition to Berry, the 2010 draft brought running back/return specialist Dexter McCluster and Wheaton-Warrenville High School’s Moeaki, plus starting cornerback Javier Arenas.
The 2009 draft provided the Chiefs with starting defensive end Tyson Jackson and kicker Ryan Succop.
Before Emery joined the Bears’ scouting staff, he was the director of strength and conditioning services and an associate professor at the U.S. Naval Academy from 1991-98. He was responsible for the development, administration and supervision of all strength and conditioning activities for 4,000 Midshipmen.
Emery joined the Naval Academy after serving as the assistant strength and conditioning coach at Tennessee (1987-91).
Kansas City Chiefs’ drafts with Phil Emery
2011
1. WR Jonathan Baldwin (backup)
2. C Rodney Hudson (backup)
3. LB Justin Houston (starter)
3. DE Allen Bailey (backup)
4. DB Jalil Brown (backup)
5. QB Ricky Stanzi (backup)
5. LB Gabe Miller (injured reserve/backup)
6. NT Jerrell Powe (backup)
7. FB Shane Bannon
2010
1. SS Eric Berry (injured reserve/starter)
2. RB Dexter McCluster (backup)
2. CB Javier Arenas (backup)
3. OG Jon Asamoah (starter)
3. TE Tony Moeaki (injured reserve/starter)
4. LB Cameron Sheffield (backup)
5. FS Kendrick Lewis (starter)
2009
1. DE Tyson Jackson (starter)
3. DT Alex Magee
4. DB Donald Washington (backup)
5. OT Colin Brown
6. WR Quinten Lawrence
7. RB Javarris Williams
7. TE Jake O’Connell (backup)
7. PK Ryan Succop (starter)
Ÿ Follow Bob’s Bears reports via Twitter @BobLeGere and check out our Bear Essentials blog at dailyherald.com.