Tag: Alshon Jeffery

Alshon Jeffery loses his temper, again

Bears, Rookie Notes
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Chicago Bears 2nd-round Alshon Jeffery was ejected from his final collegiate game for fighting with Nebraska conerback Alfonzo Dennard. On Saturday, in just his second preseason game, he was again mixed up in an altercation with Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall. Jeffery was called for unsportsmanlike conduct on the play.

Penalties are part of the game, but Jeffery has shown a tendency to lose his cool far too often on the field. The Bears have undoubtedly spoken with him about this issue – likely before they even drafted him. If it continues to be an issue it could affect his playing time.

Alshon Jeffery makes strong impression vs Redskins

Bears, Rookie Notes
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Chicago Bears 2nd-round pick Alshon Jeffery made his case for a starting job on Saturday with three catches for 62 yards in the Bears second preseason game.

Jeffery should be one of Cutler's favorite targets

Jeffery caught a 16-yard pass from Jay Cutler in the 1st quarter. He then caught passes from Jason Campbell on consecutive plays – a 12-yard reception (despite defensive pass interference) followed up by a 42-yard play.

I was skeptical of Jeffery during the draft process primarily because of his poor conditioning and occasional lack of effort, but he’s made a strong impression so far with the Bears. He will definitely crack the 53-man roster, but the only question remaining is how much action he will see. Physically, he’s similar to Brandon Marshall, which could limit his role in the Bears offense.

Draft Grades: Chicago Bears

Bears, Draft Grades - 2012
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The Chicago Bears addressnzed their most glaring need by trading for Brandon Marshall earlier this offseason, but continued an aggressive approach during the draft. They made some bold moves in an effort to catch the Packers and keep pace with the Lions. But if they don’t pan out, it could prove to be a rough start to GM Phil Emery’s career.

I jumped aboard the Shea McClellin bandwagon this offseason, but he’s not a top 20 talent and I’m not sure how he fits in Chicago. McClellin excelled in 2011 based on his performance in a hybrid end/linebacker role at Boise State. In Chicago, however, he’ll likely revert back to playing the traditional 4-3 end role. When playing with his hand on the ground, McClellin looked simply ordinary, so I’m not sure what the Bears thought they saw. He would  have been better off landing in a 3-4 defense.

Alshon Jeffery was worth a 2nd-round pick, but I’m not sure he had value here for the Bears. Their receiving corps is suddenly crowded and it’s tough to imagine him playing a significant role as long as Brandon Marshall is ahead of him on the depth chart. He does have some developmental value, but if they’re trying to win now, there were other impact players on the board.

Brandon Hardin was a definite reach in the 3rd round. He’ll compete for playing time at strong safety, but will need to beat out Major Wright and Craig Steltz.

Evan Rodriguez was also a reach. He’ll likely shift to fullback, and it’s tough to justify filling that need as early as the 4th round.

Isaiah Frey and Greg McCoy will compete for a job in the Bears secondary, but it’s fairly crowded back there. The top four corners are essentially set in stone, leaving Frey and McCoy to compete for one roster spot. It’s tough to imagine both players surviving the final cuts in training camp.

The Bears potentially added two starters in this draft class, but both McClellin and Jeffery are big risks. Neither players put together a consistent collegiate career, which raises some concern. Emery’s approach to this draft felt like a desperate attempt to make a splash. It may pay off down the road, but he did very little to help them in the immediate future. Overall, this was a very average haul for the Bears.

Alshon Jeffery scouting report

Scouting Reports - 2012
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Alshon Jeffery WR South Carolina #1
Ht: 6’4″

Wt: 230

Strengths:
Elite size and strength; a matchup nightmare in the red zone. Excellent hands. Does a nice job going up and plucking the ball out of the air, never even giving defenders a chance to get their hands on it. Has the strength to fight through press coverage. Tough for most defensive backs to bring him down; does a nice job using the stiff arm to keep defenders at bay. Surprisingly elusive for his size. Occasionally will deliver a big hit as a blocker; has the ability to dominate in this area if he wants to put forth the effort.
Weaknesses:
Fundamentals are lacking in all aspects of the game; route running, blocking, etc. Lacks the speed to consistently get open down the field; won’t outrun many defensive backs. Poor effort as a blocker; has the ability to dominate, but doesn’t even pretend to be interested half the time. Needs to learn how to run with the football; carries it away from his body too often, putting him at risk for fumbles. Gets easily frustrated by physical cornerbacks who jam him at the line of scrimmage. Ejected from 2012 Capitol One Bowl for fighting with Nebraska’s Alfonzo Dennard. Missed spring practices in 2010 due to an “academic issue.”
Comments:
Jeffery has the skills to be an elite receiver at the next level, but there are some red flags that should give teams concern about his ability to reach his full potential. South Carolina coaches have publicly praised him for his work ethic and leadership ability, but when you look at his primary flaws it’s tough not to question their sincerity. Given his size, strength and athleticism, it’s tough to find a logical excuse for his struggles with basic fundamentals such as blocking and route running other than a lack of effort. If he wants to be great, there is no doubt that Jeffery can succeed at the next level, but NFL teams should do a great deal of homework on his motivation level before investing a high pick.
Videos:
2011 vs Nebraska (bowl game)
2011 vs Auburn
2011 vs Kentucky