Chicago Bears training camp: 5 Things we’ve learned so far

2. The right guard job appears to be Ifedi’s to lose

One of the key problems with the Chicago Bears offense in 2019 was the play of the offensive line. Injuries decimated the right side of the line so badly that the offense basically stopped running to that side.

This offseason, the captain and heart of the line, Kyle Long, retired (or was forced out if you believe him). That leaves a huge hole both on and off the field. Long was a huge (literally and figuratively) leader. He was the vocal player who’d say what the others wouldn’t. Also, he kept the players in line. He’d was the leader and the other linemen would follow him.

This season, the leadership role looks to be Cody Whitehair’s. He’s back at center fulltime now, and he looks ready to take on being a leader. Now the team needs a quality guard to play on the right side.

The Bears signed former Seattle Seahawks lineman Germain Ifedi to compete with Long’s replacement last season, Rashaad Coward. Coward is a converted defensive lineman so he wasn’t expected to start. He was thrust into the spot and he struggled as a result.

Coward has last year’s experience as help. He has a better understanding of what to expect at the position. Is that enough to help him win the battle, though?

Apparently not.

Offensive line coach Juan Castillo is very impressed with Ifedi at camp so far. Ifedi has taken most of the snaps with the starters and goes up against star defensive lineman Akiem Hicks. Ifedi has held his own against Hicks and doing that is very impressive. Castillo noticed that and, while not saying it officially, it looks like Ifedi won the battle, via SI.com:

"He can match up with his quickness, he can match up with his size, he’s playing square, he’s using his hands. So I think it’s coming to practice and being able to block a guy like (Hicks) consistently and I think that shows that he’s earned a starting job."

While it’s not official, it sure sounds like it is. At this point, it looks like the starting right guard spot is Ifedi’s to lose.