Most NFL head coaches have some variation of influence on their team’s NFL draft. The traditional mode of operation is the GM makes the final call, and the head coach is expected to make it work. There is a heavy element of trust involved in that. However, some organizations have embraced a more symbiotic relationship with both the GM and head coach having strong influences on the scouting process. It’s a direct partnership if you will. Ryan Poles saw this work in Kansas City for years. He aimed to do the same when he took over the Chicago Bears. That is one of the reasons he hired Matt Eberflus.
One of the forgotten parts of the Bears’ head coach’s background is the nearly two decades he spent as an assistant coach in college. That came with different responsibilities. One of them was learning how to find talent for the program in a competitive market. That meant recruiting. Poles told the Bears media that many forget how good Eberflus was at this during his time at Toledo and Missouri.
“The beautiful thing … because of his recruiting background, he’s a good evaluator, he really is,” Poles said. “He can kind of see not only what the player is today but what he can become. I think both of us, from my time in Kansas City with (current Colts GM) Chris Ballard and his time with Chris in Indy, he can see traits, but yet the tape can be a little bit raw, and then understand how with coaching and with time we can develop players to be really good pros.”
Eberflus believes those experiences really prepared him for the NFL draft process.
He’s learned how to watch film the right way and what athletic traits to look for during combines and pro days. It’s not only about what a player is now but what he can become with good coaching in the future.
“It’s good for me because it takes me back to when I was a college scout,” Eberflus said Tuesday at the NFL owners’ meetings in Arizona. “I did that for 18 years. They used to have regional combines and all that, and it’s really cool to go to those things and evaluate the movement skills of the athletes.”
Matt Eberflus showed flashes of this ability in Indianapolis.
As the defensive coordinator for the Colts, he had to help the organization pinpoint players that could become solid contributors to his defense. The best signs of this often come in finding good talent later in the draft. Between 2018 and 2021, the Colts secured some unexpected gems in the 3rd round or later, such as Zaire Franklin, Khari Willis, Bobby Okereke, and Julian Blackmon. That doesn’t include grabbing Kenny Moore as an undrafted free agent. GM Chris Ballard may get the credit for those pickups, but they don’t happen without Eberflus’ input.
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The same goes for the Bears. Without a 1st round pick in 2022, they still managed to secure some good players like Jaquan Brisker and Braxton Jones. Kyler Gordon, Velus Jones, and Dominque Robinson also flashed considerable potential. They don’t arrive in Chicago without the input of Matt Eberflus. He is confident he can help the team find the talent they need to compete for championships. His track record says as much. It will be interesting to see how far his influence goes this year.
You know what happens when you ket coaches nake the call on players? You end up with Cedric Benson instead of Aaron Rodgers
Walter Payton’s first year he only gained something like 700 yards. I don’t think he even had a 100 yards rushing in a game until near the end of the season. I do remember distinctly though that fans were calling him a bust. Even the media was questioning if the Bears made the right choice. Then Walter became, well, Walter. I’m not saying Velus will be the next incarnation of Randy Moss. Or even the next Willie Gault. Hell, he may become the next Kevin White. But he’s shown enough flashes (fumbles notwithstanding) to give the man a second season.… Read more »
Sam K: or I would contend not only will Velus Jones be better than you think, but his fumbles contributed to the Bears landing the #1 pick.
Please stop mentioning V Jones as a good pick. He was an awful pick. Especially when you compare him to numerous receivers taken after him. Not only is he a terrible WR, he also cost us games by being terrible in the return game. He had 2-3 nice plays all year and that’s it. It’s possible he gets better, but what he has put on tape so far is not good.
I see free agents coming to Bears after draft so Poles really knows what he’s doing so don’t worry Prediction 2023 SEASON THEY WILL GO 10-7