Chicago Bears: 5 Offensive linemen to watch for in Senior Bowl

As I mentioned, the Chicago Bears’ offensive line woes led to the running game struggles in 2019. They need a mauler who can open holes, especially on the right side of the line. Ben Bredeson is a player who can do that.

At 6-5, 320 pounds, Bredeson has the size you want for the line. He has average strength so an offseason with a professional conditioning program will make him even better.

Bredeson has good quickness and while he performs well at pass protection, he is a beast at run blocking. He’s a mauler with a mean streak. He has good knee bend and when he gets leverage on a defender he’ll continue blasting him up until the whistle (sometimes past the whistle). This is the same attitude the Bears had with Long. He enjoys the competition and has a high motor.

Bredeson’s best asset is his power at the point of attack. He gets off quickly and can control his opponent. With increased strength, he’ll be able to use his hands to knock defenders off balance and slow them down. His ability to get off quickly is especially helpful in short-yardage situations. He can push the defender back quickly and allow the running back to easily get a yard or two when needed.

Bredeson’s football IQ is excellent. He is a disciplined player and does a good job of communication and swapping assignments on defensive stunts.

Bredeson is good at anchoring. He drops his hips well and keeps defenders from getting into the backfield. He sometimes finds himself reaching and get off-balanced. If he improves that, defenders will continually be kept at bay and Trubisky and Montgomery can do their jobs better than they did in 2019.