The Bears didn't wait until the draft to address their gaping hole at tackle, adding this fine-looking young fellow to the squad today. Kevin Shaffer is 29 and has played for the Atlanta Falcons (with current Bear Roberto Garza) and more recently for the Cleveland Browns.He has 46 more career starts than the Bears' other O-line signee, Frank Omiyale.
I looked up Shaffer's Madden ratings (obviously the best way to see if he's any good or not!) and he is an 89 overall. Sweet. He's apparently a balanced pass and run blocker, scoring 90 and 91 in those categories with solid scores around the 'strength' and 'footwork' categories, and an 85 Impact Block score (how often he pancakes opponents).
Bears first-rounder Chris Williams only rated a 79 last season, and John St. Clair, who is basically job-swapping with Shaffer in Cleveland, was a 74.
Way to go, Jerry Angelo. I give this move a solid 7.5 on the one-to-ten GM Moves Scale.
(FYI: A "1" would be something like, umm, "Cade McNown," whereas a "10" would be "getting Randy Moss for a fourth-rounder.")
Welcome to Chicago, Kevin! Glad to have you here.
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I love this signing. I think the Bears should still address OT in the first 3 or 4 rounds, but now it frees up the Bears to either draft WR, DE, or possibly DB or QB. I can't wait until Orton is no longer a Bear, he blows.
ReplyDeleteThe best part about this is it frees us up to take G Duke Robinson or C Alex Mack in the second round. Maybe writin' an article about this soon.
ReplyDeletethanks for the feedback man!