Brad Biggs at the Chicago Tribune tells us what was learned at Chicago Bears practice Monday:
- One thing the Bears have to figure out — if they haven’t already — is who will start alongside [Dillon] Thieneman at safety.
Veterans Xavier Woods and Cam Lewis are the options, and there’s a little bit of a challenge when it comes to communication between Thieneman and whoever gets the job. Both have played a lot of ball, but it’s a time-on-task thing. Woods signed Aug. 7, and Lewis spent a good deal of the spring program and early portion of training camp playing nickel cornerback.
“I feel very comfortable with them,” Thieneman said. “They definitely have a lot of experience to help me. And then I’ve been talking to them a lot in the meeting room, like how they see things, and out in the field we’ll talk once we’re on the sideline.
“But I feel very comfortable and able to communicate and kind of anticipate what the other guys are thinking with both of the guys.”
I’d bet money on Woods.
Woods is an established NFL starter at safety having played 134 games over nine seasons. His strength is pass defense which makes him at least the safe option in that respect.
Lewis’s strength is special teams. He’s a versatile performer, having played multiple positions across the secondary, including slot cornerback, outside cornerback, and safety. But he hasn’t been a starter at any of those positions.
I don’t know if you acquire a Xavier Woods if you are comfortable with Lewis starting for you. And, unless he’s shown something with the Bears that he hasn’t shown for anyone else in the last seven years, I don’t know why you’d be comfortable with Lewis.