Nobody knows for sure what to expect from the Chicago Bears this year. That is typical of a rebuilding team. There is no question this roster is younger, faster, and more athletic on paper. Typically, this is a good thing. It means they will be able to pressure opponents late in games and make more big plays. However, it doesn’t always translate to more wins. Much of that depends on the quality of players GM Ryan Poles added and the ability of head coach Matt Eberflus to get the most out of them.
There is nothing wrong with optimism. The upside of this roster is significant. Much of it stems from their retooled linebacking corps led by Tremaine Edmunds and a suddenly deep wide receiver group headlined by D.J. Moore. However, that is not the spot that has former Bears scout Greg Gabriel excited. He wrote on Windy City Gridiron that the one position that could end up being a core team strength moving forward is the offensive tackles, led by Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright.
When the vets report to camp next Tuesday, we will see a much different starting five than we saw last season. The left tackle will be Braxton Jones, who gained a lot of experience as a rookie playing every snap last year. He will be even better this year…
…At right tackle, rookie first-round pick Darnell Wright takes over. He is a big and nasty player similar to Jenkins but with more athleticism. He will, of course, go through some rookie growing pains, but if we look at the combination of Wright and Jones, the tackle position is set for years.
The Chicago Bears may have something brewing.
We already know Jones developed into a quality run blocker last season. His quickness, range, and aggression were essential to the success of their outside-zone attack. The pass protection was his crucial issue. There were notable problems with his anchor against power. However, he seemed to mitigate some problems by improving his technique. There is still tons of room for him to grow. As for Wright, he established himself as the best pass protector in the SEC last season. So we already know he’s capable of blocking NFL-caliber talent.
The big questions with him center on his erratic run blocking and his developing technique. Both of those issues are far from impossible to solve. If those two players live up to their potential, Gabriel is correct. The Chicago Bears could have one of the best tackle duos in the NFC, if not the entire NFL. They are that talented. Offensive line coach Chris Morgan has an important project on his hands. The Bears trust him to get those two where they need to be.
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Being able to protect the QB is the most important thing. However, if you’re not able to overcome the inevitable injuries that will occur… it’s all over. While the guard and center spots are secure, tackle is is not. Unless you’re comfortable with Leatherwood being a book end.
Can’t build a winner over night. It’s going to take time. Many of the players on the roster now will be gone when this team is ready to compete for a championship, and that’s ok.
It is more than the 2 tackles that will give defenses pause, it will be the overall speed and agility this unit possesses combined with each individual’s strength and nasty attitude on the field that will completely overtake games.
I’d still like to see a couple of Reiffs and Cofields added by camp. Don’t be a masochist please.
One or two injuries and the OL is in serious trouble. It needs quality depth, big time.
Poles has done an excellent job setting the team up to succeed. He’s got some top tier prospects in key positions set. The key now is coaching. The critical seasons for any rookie are the first two. That’s Captain Obvious. But what goes unnoticed by many is how critical coaching is to those first two years. How many players were ruined because they started their careers with bad coaching, teaching bad habits? I believe it’s a lot more than people realize. Look at JF1. His rookie season was useless because his coach did nothing to prepare him. Many commentators called… Read more »