It seems that right before training camp experts start to panic especially when a player decides to retire and the Chicago Bears roster is thinning out.
Bears general manager Ryan Pace, scouts, and coaches have been hard at work preparing for the coming season. They are well away of who is ready to play and who is not. What positions need to be bolstered and who is working hard to stay on the roster.
On July 23rd, offensive tackle Nate Chandler decided to retire just as training camp is about to begin. Should this be a surprise, especially when the Bears signed Amini Sitalou just three days earlier? Obviously, the Bears brass saw this coming and was already looking to fill that position.
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But over and over again media analysts and fans alike panic if there appears to be some type of weakness or uncertainty in one of the phases. Well, as they say, “Don’t get all squirrely just yet”. Training camp is just starting, and the offseason training will pay off and put the doubters to rest.
But in order to put fans at ease let’s look at the offensive line. It’s pretty clear that Bobby Massie and Kyle Long are the solid starters on the right side. Hroniss Grasu will most likely cover center with Charles Leno and rookie Cody Whitehair on the left side. That leaves the second-string to supply fresh legs during a game and still hold the same strength and position to allow time for quarterback Jay Cutler to make a play. The following linemen who can fit into the number to
The following linemen who can fit into the number two slots are rookies John Kling, Donovan Williams, Adrian Bellard, semi-vets Cornelius Edison, Martin Wallace, Jason Weaver and solid vets in Amini Silatolu, Nick Becton, and Ted Larson.
Larson will definitely stay as he is a swing lineman who can play both center and guard. With the signing of Silatolu, neither Long nor Whitehair will have to switch to tackle in the event of an injury. Jason Weaver has yet to start in any games in the two years he has been in the league. Without any solid data, it’s hard to assess what he can bring to the Bears offensive line.
But with Long possibly out through preseason with a calf strain during training camp, according to Patrick Finley of the Chicago-Sun Times, this will give rookie guard Williams a chance to prove himself as an asset to the team. He received a personal invite to the Bears mini-camp and was signed right after, which says a lot for what he can bring to the team.
An undrafted free agent, it is his job to lose if he does not make the most of it. The other rookie who can snag a spot is undrafted free agent John Kling. Standing at a whopping 6’7” and a wing span that could wipe out a defender, Kling is also fighting for a roster spot at left tackle or guard.
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The Bears have some good solid front linemen, and they are all aware of what is expected of them. Coach John Fox constantly reminds the players that they do not get paid to play but get paid to win. The offensive line has a sole purpose and that is to protect Cutler and make opportunities happen for the run game and receiving core to score points.
It’s just too early to panic and with the first week of training camp come to a close, let’s just see how much these players want to win.