cowboyjoe
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LM: Defensive tackle Henry Melton had a great game Sunday, recording two sacks and seven quarterback hits in his first NFL start. What led to the Bears selecting him in the fourth round of the 2009 draft out of Texas?
Note, this is why you leave no stone unturned:
http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=8149
Henry Melton celebrates with Lance Briggs after recording a sack in the Bears' season-opening win Sunday.
JA: “We knew he was a top athlete. He played as a true freshman as a 270-pound running back at Texas on a national championship team. He didn’t start, but he scored 10 touchdowns. Moving forward, he didn’t have much of a role on offense. Our area scout, Chris Ballard, did a great job of tracking him. He knew [then-Texas defensive coordinator] Will Muschamp and Will told Chris that he asked coach [Mack] Brown if he could work with him on defense because he liked his size and athleticism. Henry played on defense a few years. As a senior, he really started to show some things. We saw him at an all-star game and liked his traits, but by no means was he a finished product. Henry didn’t go to the Combine, but he made approximately 13 pre-draft visits, the most of any non-Combine player. We put a lot of stock in what our scouts say. They do a ton of homework, and Chris put his stamp on him. He said: ‘This guy’s got all upside. He’s shown the toughness and work ethic needed to get to his ceiling, and if we’re patient with him, maybe we’ll have something.’ When our coaches got him, they were really intrigued and motivated to work with him. Henry has been a work in progress. It’s really good to see that he’s coming closer to that ceiling. It’s come through a lot of hard work on his part and a lot of special coaching as well.”
Note, this is why you leave no stone unturned:
http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=8149
Henry Melton celebrates with Lance Briggs after recording a sack in the Bears' season-opening win Sunday.
JA: “We knew he was a top athlete. He played as a true freshman as a 270-pound running back at Texas on a national championship team. He didn’t start, but he scored 10 touchdowns. Moving forward, he didn’t have much of a role on offense. Our area scout, Chris Ballard, did a great job of tracking him. He knew [then-Texas defensive coordinator] Will Muschamp and Will told Chris that he asked coach [Mack] Brown if he could work with him on defense because he liked his size and athleticism. Henry played on defense a few years. As a senior, he really started to show some things. We saw him at an all-star game and liked his traits, but by no means was he a finished product. Henry didn’t go to the Combine, but he made approximately 13 pre-draft visits, the most of any non-Combine player. We put a lot of stock in what our scouts say. They do a ton of homework, and Chris put his stamp on him. He said: ‘This guy’s got all upside. He’s shown the toughness and work ethic needed to get to his ceiling, and if we’re patient with him, maybe we’ll have something.’ When our coaches got him, they were really intrigued and motivated to work with him. Henry has been a work in progress. It’s really good to see that he’s coming closer to that ceiling. It’s come through a lot of hard work on his part and a lot of special coaching as well.”