goman

Bears could take a Gamble at 14

April 13, 2004

BY MIKE MULLIGAN Staff Reporter


Bears general manager Jerry Angelo is not a fan of boom-or-bust selections
with first-day picks, but it looks like he might be talking himself into
taking a Gamble with the No. 14 overall choice in the April 24 draft.

Ohio State cornerback Chris Gamble visited Angelo, coach Lovie Smith and
director of college scouting Greg Gabriel at Halas Hall on Monday, which
makes him the last player the team will bring in before draft day. A source


possibility at No. 14.

The Bears brought in defensive tackles Vince Wilfork and Tommie Harris last
week and are rumored to have about five players they covet with their first
pick.

Gamble would be a surprise selection because there are concerns about his
two workouts at Ohio State, particularly whether he has the speed to excel
at the position. But the Bears are convinced Gamble could be this year's
Terrell Suggs, the Arizona State defensive end who went on to win Defensive
Rookie of the Year honors with Baltimore last season after poor workouts
dropped him out of the top five to No. 10 overall.

Gamble said at the scouting combine in Indianapolis that he would run ''4.36
or 4.37'' in the 40-yard dash, but he came in considerably slower at Ohio
State's pro workout day March 12, turning in times in the 4.5 range. He ran
for scouts again April 5 when running back Maurice Clarett worked out at
Ohio State but did not significantly improve his times.

The failure to run a blazing 40 time, coupled with a reported low score on
his Wonderlic test -- the NFL's intelligence exam -- has downgraded Gamble
on some draft boards, but the Bears still believe his upside is off the
charts compared with anyone else in the draft at his position. He showed
explosiveness and smoothness in all his drills and at 6-1-1/4 and 200 pounds
reminded the Bears a lot of last year's second-round pick, Charles Tillman.

Furthermore, Gamble, a junior eligible, has limited playing experience at
cornerback after starting his college career as a wide receiver and
splitting time between both positions (he also returned punts during a
stellar sophomore year). Gamble lived up to his name too often last season
and was beaten for some big plays, but with great hands and a knack for
making plays on the ball in the air, he could emerge as a great player with
some NFL-caliber coaching.

Williams, also a junior eligible, doesn't appear to fit what offensive
coordinator Terry Shea is looking for at wide receiver at first glance, but
he's firmly entrenched as the No. 4 receiver on most draft boards behind
Pittsburgh's Larry Fitzgerald, Texas' Roy Williams and USC's Mike Williams.
At 6-4, 220 pounds, he has more size than speed but hits his top gear faster
than most big receivers and is a great playmaker, especially inside the
35-yard line.

If Roy Williams had come out last year as expected, and Fitzgerald and Mike
Williams had stayed in school as expected, Reggie Williams would be a
top-five pick. The Bears think he would make a great value selection at No.
14.

thomas r. shannon

You could be right. It could also be a "just in case he's there in the
second round" type of thing. It's doubtful but not impossible he could fall
far enough for the Bears to trade up in the second round.

Tom S.

No.

goman

I think its just a smoke and mirror plot because of this weeks crap that the
Packers are going thru with McKenzie....although I wouldnt mind him...but we
DO need a DT....wishing for Harris.

GMAN

tshannon

My gut is telling me you are right about the DT. Above all, the Bears
need an impact player no matter who they take or what position he
plays. That just has to be number one.

But if that player is a DT or a LB, I'll feel allot better. Allot
better. If Angelo is as good a GM as I think he is, he likely had
someone in mind for that pick as he signed FA's so that we'll get both
the best player and one in a position of need. If he's as good as I
think, that is. If not, there are going to be holes and I won't be
all that happy.

Tom S.

big10

Who cares about speed and coverage ability at the Cornerback position.. ITS
ALL ABOUT HITS MAN!!!

Remember Goman, "There are things more important then stats, like Team Dynamics"


THESE STATS ARE OVERRATED. STOP SHARING THESE 40 TIMES !!

IF THERE IS ONE THING THAT SCOUTS NEED TO JUDGE DB'S ON IS SIMPLY THIS.
"KE= 1/2 mv^2" *LMAO*