Ken Lucas: April 2009 Archives

Here is our final edition of Four Down Territory for the week. We'll get back to the mailbag on Monday, so make sure you get your questions in over the weekend with two weeks until the draft. Here we go.

Q: What do you think the chances are that the Bears will select Rashad Johnson of Alabama in the second round to play strong safety and wait until later in the draft to get a receiver like Ramses Barden and let him learn under a veteran like Torry Holt? I think Johnson has the ability to be an Ed Reed type of safety who can play center field. I also see Barden having the ability to possibly develop into a Marcus Robinson type receiver. What are your thoughts?

Nick D., Orlando, Fla.

A: Johnson is an interesting guy who had a very successful college career, particularly after Nick Saban arrived at Alabama in 2007. A former walk-on, Johnson turned into one of the best defensive backs in the SEC. No one is going to be drafting him to play strong safety though. He's strictly a free safety and there are some questions as to whether or not he will be able to hold up at that spot as well, but more on that in a little bit. Johnson thrived under Saban and made 11 interceptions over the last two seasons to go with 19 passes broken up.

Jerry Angelo took to the podium for the Bears' Web site again Wednesday and addressed the club's reported interest in soon-to-be ex-Denver quarterback Jay Cutler, as well as free agents Orlando Pace and Ken Lucas, who both visited Halas Hall on Monday.

If he shed any light on the situations, it's that he'd like all situations in the dark. Think pitch-dark cave. At night.

"We always are looking for ways to improve our team and we spend a great deal of time exploring the options available to us whether it be unrestricted free agency, restricted free agents, trades, the draft, etc.,'' Angelo announced on the Web site. "We have brought in players that have helped us win through all those vehicles in my years here in Chicago. We have already signed a few free agents this offseason and we continue to work the pro player acquisition channels as we prepare for the draft. What we have not made a habit of is talking about these moves prematurely and we will continue to operate in a similar fashion.