Chicago Bears: 5 Cut candidates sitting on roster bubble
1. Germain Ifedi, Offensive Lineman
One of the common things that the Chicago Bears have with the signings of other teams’ failed first-round players is a one-year “prove it” deal. Germain Ifedi has that one year to prove his worth. The Bears signed him for just about the league minimum so they can part ways with no salary cap trouble.
One thing that separates Ifedi from the other signings is that Ifedi did a pretty good job of playing the position the Bears want him to play. In his rookie season, he played offensive guard. He did a pretty good job, handling defenders and only committing seven penalties.
For some reason, the Seahawks decided to move him over to tackle. That didn’t work out so well for Ifedi. He has good power and strength and at 6-5, 325 pounds, he has good size. He does not, however, possess the speed to handle athletic, quick pass rushers. In his three seasons at tackle, he committed 39 penalties. He just couldn’t handle that position.
Now with the Bears, Ifedi gets a chance to revive his career at guard. He’ll have competition, though. Rashaad Coward, last year’s starter, and Alex Bars, a talented lineman who rehabbed from a gruesome injury from his senior year in college.
Coward had trouble last season at guard but he was thrown into the fire without much experience. The original starter, Kyle Long, suffered an injury and missed the season after Week 5. His replacement, Ted Larsen, then went down himself. This year, though, he has last season’s experience so he has a better understanding of the position.
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Bars is a talented lineman who is now ready to display his talents. He did a good job under former Chicago Bears and Notre Dame offensive line coach Harry Hiestand. He was a second-round prospect before his injury. He is now healthy and ready to do battle.
Many expect Ifedi to win the battle, as he should. If he doesn’t win, however, that could be the end of him trying to win a starting job anywhere else. The Bears line has its troubles and if Ifedi can’t win a job here, I doubt he could find a job elsewhere.