As we come out of the draft and enter the OTAs, Kevin Fishbain at Pro Football Weekly thought it might be instructive to look at the Bears depth chart. I agree.
Offense
WR: Alshon Jeffery / Marquess Wilson / Cameron Meredith / Derek Keaton*
WR: Kevin White / Josh Bellamy / Deonte Thompson / Darrin Peterson*
WR: Eddie Royal / Marc Mariani / Daniel Braverman* / Kieren Duncan*
OLT: Charles Leno Jr. / Nick Becton / Jason Weaver
OLG: Ted Larsen / Cody Whitehair* / Donovan Williams*
C: Hroniss Grasu / Manny Ramirez / Cornelius Edison
ORG: Kyle Long / Ted Larsen / Manny Ramirez / Adrian Bellard*
ORT: Bobby Massie / Tayo Fabuluje / John Kling* / Martin Wallace
TE: Zach Miller / Rob Housler / Ben Braunecker* / Joe Sommers*
TE/FB: Khari Lee / Gannon Sinclair / Paul Lasike / Greg Scruggs
QB: Jay Cutler / Brian Hoyer / David Fales / Matt Blanchard
RB: Jeremy Langford / Ka’Deem Carey / Jordan Howard* / Jacquizz Rodgers / Senorise Perry
Defense
DE: Akiem Hicks / Will Sutton / Cornelius Washington / Kenton Adeyemi*
NT: Eddie Goldman / Terry Williams
DE: Mitch Unrein / Jonathan Bullard* / Ego Ferguson / Keith Browner
OLB: Pernell McPhee / Lamarr Houston / Sam Acho
ILB: Jerrell Freeman / Nick Kwiatkoski* / Christian Jones / Don Cherry*
ILB: Danny Trevathan / John Timu / Jonathan Anderson / Danny Mason
OLB: Willie Young / Leonard Floyd* / Roy Robertson-Harris* / Lamin Barrow
CB: Tracy Porter / Bryce Callahan / Jacoby Glenn / Taveze Calhoun*
FS: Adrian Amos / Omar Bolden / DeAndre Houston-Carson* / Demontre Hurst
SS: Harold Jones-Quartey / Deon Bush* / Chris Prosinski
CB: Kyle Fuller / Sherrick McManis / Deiondre’ Hall* / De’Vante Bausby / Kevin Peterson*
Weakest Position
I believe this is offensive tackle though a case could certainly be made for the defensive backfield positions. But the Bears have some younger players at cornerback and safety that may develop. I’m not so sure about tackle.
It’s not that I don’t believe in Leno and I’m certainly willing to give Massie a chance. But, unlike the situation at the interior offensive line positions where Larsen, Whitehair, Grasu, Ramirez and Long will battle it out for three spots, the situation at tackle seems to be the front line players and then nobody. And the starters certainly aren’t guaranteed top performers. I don’t even see a swing tackle in the group.
It’s possible that the team is hoping that Fabuluje develops but even if he does, both he and Massie would be a problem if they had to step in on the left side. It’s also possible that the team believes that one of the interior players can move over to tackle in a pinch but, again, that’s not ideal.
Bottom line, I think we can expect the team to be looking closely at June 1 cuts and players that become available in training camp.
Strongest Position
This one came as a surprise even to me. It’s pass rusher. McPhee, Houston, and Young are all solid players. McPhee showed what he could do last year before being slowed by injuries and there’s every reason to believe that both Houston and Young are on the rise in their second year coming off serious injuries. Indeed, the Bears are reportedly working on an extension for Young. Add Floyd’s potential and a solid back up and special teamer in Acho and you’ve got a good group of players there.
I consider this to be a good sign. If you are going to be strong anywhere on your team, you want it to be at pass rusher. I don’t see it as a spectacular unit but I think there are players there that have provent that they can get the job done. The performance here, along with the ability to stay healthy at offensive tackle may be a key to having a successful season.