The Chicago Bears scouting combine entourage was no doubt fully loaded. Everybody of consequence from GM Ryan Pace to head coach Matt Nagy are down in Indianapolis taking a look at some of the best talent the 2018 NFL draft has to offer. The Friday, March 2nd contingent marks the first of three days for the event. Three position groups conducted drills during it: running back, offensive line and the special teamers.
Much of the attention of the day was on Penn State superstar Saquon Barkley. He showed why. The running back annihilated every drill, delivering 29 reps on the bench press, a 41-inch vertical leap, and a 4.4 time in the 40-yard dash. The fact he did all that at 233 lbs? The guy is a freak and almost certain to get himself drafted in the top 10, if not the top five.
However, signs indicate the Bears had little interest in him or the rest of the running backs for that matter. Their focus was almost entirely fixed elsewhere.
Chicago Bears scouting combine brass had eyes for the offensive line
Reports down in Indy didn’t reveal much about what certain teams were doing. They stayed focused on the action. That is until Da Bears Brothers, who were attending the combine, noticed something odd about the section where most of the Bears higher-ups were located.
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#Bears section was full during OL drills. More so than most teams. Afterward they went back to the lounge area of it and held a meeting.
Could mean something, or it could mean nothing. Just sharing my observation.
— Da Bears Brothers (@DaBearsBros) March 2, 2018
It’s easy to read too much into something like that. By itself it shouldn’t mean much. Then again, there are other factors in play here. Don’t forget that Josh Sitton was just cut by the team. Kyle Long is also coming off multiple surgeries this off-season. Their offensive line situation may not be as secure as some want to believe.
Then there’s the arrival of Nagy himself. Being an offensive guy he might not view the current crop of blockers the Bears have as ideal for the system he wants to implement. Last but not least, the team has quietly been active in meeting with several line prospects for the past couple months. Aaron Leming of Bear Report last indicated they’ve met with no less than five prospects between the Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl.
- Brian O’Neill (Pitt)
- Alex Cappa (Humbolt St)
- Brandon Parker (NC A&T)
- Brett Toth (Army)
- Jamar McGloster (Syracuse)
That number is almost certain to go up after what they just saw at Lucas Oil Stadium.
2018 O-line group put on an athletic clinic
One thing is for sure about what the Bears saw. This crop of linemen is athletic specimens. It didn’t seem to matter which drill the Bears watched during the action. Everyone saw a prominent prospect delivering a freakish performance. It started with powerhouse guard Will Hernandez. Considered the second-best by many at his position in the draft, he racked up an absurd 37 reps of 225 lbs on the bench press.
Hernandez also had a respectable 5.06 time on the 40-yard dash, especially given he’s over 340 lbs. The best run though was reserved for Pitt offensive tackle Brian O’Neill. The Bears met with him at the Senior Bowl last month. They must’ve liked what they saw when he blew away the rest of his competition with a blistering 4.80.
Perhaps the biggest buzz of the day though went to UCLA tackle Kolton Miller. By himself, the young man is something to look at. He’s every bit of 6’8″ and weighs north of 300 lbs. Guys that size isn’t typically known for their explosion or athletic prowess. He squashed both those myths when he shattered the old combine record with a 10’1″ mark in the broad jump.
It’s worth noting that tackles who post great jumps like that end up going in the first round and become productive starters in the pros. Some recent examples? Lane Johnson in Philadelphia, Taylor Lewan in Tennessee, and Eric Fisher in Kansas City. Given the Bears now have top O-line coach Harry Hiestand on board, they might be viewed as a kid in a candy store watching all these athletes perform.
