Here is the process of coming to this conclusion.
1. Deciphering which of all the OLB/pass rushers the Bears like - With some reading and watching into what Pace said at the press conference, two things stuck out to me when he was talking about OLB/pass rushers. The first thing was, all he wants his OLB to do is be able to rush the passer, set the edge and cover in the flat with the latter being the least important. The only guys who can do all 3 of those things are Fowler and Ray. Gregory is no longer an option with the drug test and Beasely while possibly the most polished pass rusher, can't set the edge like the other two. Between Fowler and Ray, Ray is obviously the better pass rusher having a better first step and has the production to show for it. Ray's arms are long enough (33+inches) and Ray checks off a lot of the other boxes as well like character, attitude, motor and production.
On the field, Ray plays with an alpha mentality. He plays violent, chasing the ball carrier and rushing the passer like every snap is his last. Off the field, he is a little more soft spoken but still displays confidence and a team first approach. He had a troubled past but has come through it and uses it on the field. Aldon Smith who was one of Fangio's centerpiece's in SF, played a very similar role to Shane Ray in college. Both played DE and 3 tech pre-dominantly at the University of Missouri with their hand in the dirt on almost every down. Pace puts a lot more emphasis on game tape than combine numbers and when you watch each of these pass rushers, I fail to see how you cannot say that Shane Ray is the guy who stands out on tape. Other than maybe Dante Fowler, I don't think anybody checks off the boxes like Shane Ray does.
- Game tape/production - check
- Elite get off - check
- High motor - check
- Character - check
- Arm length - check
2. Where does he rank among the rest of the players at other positions?
The other thing Pace said is that he places a premium on pass rushers. You can never have enough. I am sure that Fox and Fangio agree with that statement. He said that if the pass rusher they like is on the board at #7 there is no doubt they will pick him. He also talked about the depth at the WR position which leads me to believe that in a toss up between a guy like Amari Cooper and Shane Ray...Ray will be the name called.
The Bears have 1 maybe 2 pass rushers they like and if they are there at #7 I believe they will go in that direction when you look at the coaches influence. If not, I think a guy like Amari Cooper will then become an option with our pick.
