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

Okay, so let’s say Pace does go after a small school guy to help the line. Ben Bartch is another option for that. He has the size at 6-6 and 308 pounds, and the strength to do well at the next level. He can help both at tackle and guard.

The first thing you notice with Bartch is how strong his hands are. He has a powerful punch at the point of attack that just stops rushers cold. Once he hits them with his punch, he does a good job of taking advantage and finishing them off. Over the course of a game, he wears defenders down with his constant crushing punches. Sometimes he tries too hard, though, and he has bad hand placement.

In addition to his strength and power, Bartch has good footwork and is light on his feet. That allows him to get to the second level when he pulls.

Bartch has a high football IQ so he doesn’t get confused with exotic defensive fronts. He does a good job of letting the defense make its move before he makes a commitment. Bartch is still a raw player and he probably starts his career at guard until he acclimates himself to the NFL speed. With his intelligence, however, he’ll progress greatly with professional coaching.

Yes, Bartch could be a gamble, but he could be a good one. He’s already shown in the first day of practice that he isn’t intimidated being around players from Alabama, Clemson and others from top-notch schools. He more than held his own in one-on-ones and came out looking good. Let’s see how he does going forward but he’s looking good thus far.