Saturday, April 26, 2003
Bears looking to upgrade defensive line
By Jason Strait
The Associated Press
CHICAGO - Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo doesn't expect to snare another Warren Sapp in this year's draft. That doesn't mean he'll pass on someone close.
Angelo was director of player personnel for Tampa Bay when the Buccaneers scooped up Sapp in what became a draft-day bargain at No. 12. Sapp has since been selected for six straight Pro Bowls.
The Bears have the fourth pick in this weekend's NFL draft.
They badly need to upgrade an aging and injury-prone defensive line and replace their top sacker, outside linebacker Rosevelt Colvin, who was lost to free agency.
Is there another Sapp in this draft? Angelo doubts it.
Still, Angelo doesn't think Dewayne Robertson is far off. Robertson, a 6-foot-3, 320-pounder from Kentucky, heads a deep field of defensive tackles whose stock has soared in workouts.
"If there is somebody like (Sapp), it's him," Angelo said. "You look at his ability to rush the passer, and he's a great run player. He's the package."
He just may not be the package the Bears are looking for.
Angelo said he hasn't ruled out trading the pick for a pair of lower selections. As many as 12 defensive lineman could be selected in the first round. The Bears also want to pick a quarterback early on, though they likely will wait for the second or third round.
"I would say that there is a possibility (of trading), depending on what teams and what the offers are," Angelo said. "Other teams have talked to us."
Chicago's success with high draft picks has been mixed of late.
The last time the Bears had the fourth selection, they went with another defensive tackle, winding up with a Hall of Famer, Dan Hampton. But the last time they picked in the top five, the Bears took running back Curtis Enis - a bust who lasted just three years in Chicago.
Robertson should still be around if the Bears hold onto the pick. He left Kentucky a year early after being selected to the All-Southeastern Conference second team. He had 48 tackles, including 81/2 for a loss, and a team-high five sacks in 2002. Robertson started 32 games in his college career.
The Bears could use some youth on the defensive line.
Defensive tackle Ted Washington, who was injured much of last season, will be 35 next season. Keith Traylor will be 34.
If the Bears do go with a defensive lineman, he won't be coddled.
"If we stay with that fourth pick we're anticipating that player, unless it's a quarterback, to step right on the field and be a productive player for us," coach Dick Jauron said.
The Bears also need a top pass rusher with the departure of Colvin. But like many teams, they were disappointed with a pair of poor workouts from sack specialist Terrell Suggs of Arizona State.
By comparison, Suggs had a slower 40-yard time than Robertson, who outweighs Suggs by about 60 pounds.
"Suggs, by not having a great workout obviously has put a seed of doubt in people's heads about what kind of impact he's going to have at this level," Angelo said. "One of a speed rusher's talents is predicated on his speed. When he didn't run fast, that seed of doubt has to come to mind."
Angelo wants to take a quarterback in the first three rounds, though Chicago's need there isn't nearly as pressing as it is on defense. The Bears signed Kordell Stewart in the offseason to a two-year, $5 million deal. They also appear to be in good shape at receiver, running back and on the offensive line.
The Bears scheduled a private workout with Louisville quarterback Dave Ragone on Thursday. The three-time Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year had seen his stock drop after disappointing workouts, but still passed for 8,564 yards and 74 TDs in college.
"We'd like to get a young quarterback, but honestly with Kordell, we're certainly committed to making him our guy for however long he can play," Jauron said.
The Bears also need a third defensive back, though don't ask defensive coordinator Greg Blache who that will be. He isn't telling, and he doubts the sincerity of those who do.
"I'm not as stupid as I look to say who we like. You've got to keep your cards down when you're playing for the money," he said. "Everybody's lying anyway. Nobody is telling the truth."
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