| 18 February 2010
Following up on prospects from the Texas vs. the Nation All-Star game, the Bears have invited South Dakota State's Danny Batten for a pre-draft workout/visit to Halas Hall. Batten is the second player known to receive a pre-draft workout visit call to Halas Hall behind OT Nic Richmond from TCU.
Batten is also a player who was not invited to the scouting combine in Indianapolis later this month. The Bears targeted three players in the draft and one via free agency who they scouted via visits to Halas Hall last year. Defensive end Henry Melton, safety Al Afalava and Guard Lance Louis were players not invited to the NFL combine in 2009 who the Bears personally scouted via private workouts. Afalava wound up being a better than serviceable starter as a rookie in 2009 spending time at both free and strong safety for Lovie Smith. Both Melton and Louis wound up making the cut with Melton enjoying a red shirt type of season on the IR.
Batten is a 6-foot-4 252-pound hybrid DE/OLB prospect who was one of the top performers at the Texas vs. the Nation college all-star game from a couple weeks ago. He was a first team All-Missouri Valley conference player leading his team in sacks with nine and tackles for a loss with 17 as a senior.
The guess here is Batten is being targeted as a late round DE pass rusher in the mold of Mark Anderson, and Alex Brown. The Bears do not like the bigger or more physical SAM 'backers that a lot of teams in the NFL play. Smith's scheme prefers speed versus size as evidenced by the draft history of Lovie Smith. Jamar Williams, Nick Roach, Lance Briggs, Michael Okwo are all LBs that are under 6-foot-3 and are known more for their speed versus size.
Same strategy for the defensive end prospects the Bears have targeted over the years...speed versus size. Smith doesn't appear to be willing to even slightly change the players he targets for his defensive scheme. Most teams prefer to have the option of generating a pass rush from the linebacker spot, but Smith will stick to the defenders that best fit the zone defense. Players who play well in space, cover ground well and tackle well in the flats and in one on one coverage situations.
Batten is considered by most draft sites to be a late round prospect likely a seventh rounder to an un-drafted free agency prospect. From YouTube here is a quick high light video of Batten in action at South Dakota State.
For the complete list of players that have been invited or scouted personally by the Bears via the private campus workout or invite to Halas Hall follow the link below:
2010 Chicago Bears pre-draft workout list
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