Head coach Matt Nagy opened the 2019 offseason at OTAs with a pair of notable changes to the Chicago Bears offensive line. One was something the team had hinted at since last year. That was switching Cody Whitehair and James Daniels between left guard and center. The other was the somewhat unexpected shift of backup offensive tackle Bradley Sowell to tight end.
These moves might seem confusing on the surface. Whitehair went to a Pro Bowl as a center last year. Moving him out of there in favor of Daniels doesn’t seem like an upgrade of any kind. As for Sowell, his shift to tight end leaves the depth at tackle in question. However, a closer examination should reveal a clear agenda the Bears coaches have in mind.
They want to open up the ground game.
Look at it like this. Last season, Whitehair had a 64.3 run blocking grade according to Pro Football Focus. The best of all the Bears interior offensive linemen. Left tackle Charles Leno had the best of the tackles with a 67.4. By moving Whitehair to left guard, the Bears have suddenly put their two best run blockers next to each other.
Subscribe to the BFR podcast and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
Chicago Bears offensive line trying to get stronger on the edges
So what about Sowell? This is where it really gets creative. While most will view the move as primarily driven by the tackle’s unique ability to catch passes. Something he showcased with his epic touchdown grab against the Rams last season, the fact is the Bears are more interested in getting him onto the field more as a blocker.
By shifting him to tight end, they circumvent the NFL rule where a tackle has to constantly report as eligible to the referees. This means Sowell can come on and off the field as he wishes, basically acting as a sixth offensive lineman who can give the Bears extra size and push on the edges.
Remember that the team added a significant degree of speed to their ground game with the drafting of David Montgomery and Kerrith Whyte. Not to mention how dangerous Tarik Cohen is going around the end. Having Sowell out there in front rather than the undersized Ben Braunecker or the inadequate Adam Shaheen is a plus for the Bears.