When you have a new coaching staff coming in, the smart thing to do is make room for the strong possibility that significant roster changes are around the corner. Players that the previous staff might’ve considered untouchable no longer enjoy that under the new one. So far, the Chicago Bears under Ben Johnson haven’t made any glaring moves to shake up the roster as final cuts approach. That could be about to change, and it’s coming from the defensive side of the ball under new coordinator Dennis Allen.
For weeks, there were no indications that the starting lineup would see a significant change going into the season. Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune just threw all of that into a blender with his latest tweet. He indicates that Andrew Billings, the team’s starting nose tackle for the past two seasons, isn’t a lock for the final 53. Given how much he’s meant to their run defense when healthy, this would be a genuine shock. Billings is coming off a torn pectoral last season, but he was expected to be a big part of their front still.
Dennis Allen did offer warning signs about Billings.
For one, the 30-year-old played an abnormal number of snaps in the preseason. His 41 nearly doubled the 21 Gervon Dexter played. There is also the depth chart. Dexter and new free agent addition Grady Jarrett are locks. Presuming Shemar Turner is classified as a defensive tackle, he will be the third guy. That leaves Billings battling with Zacch Pickens and Chris Williams for the fourth and likely final spot. It might seem baffling to some that this is even a choice, but remember the other two are younger, cheaper, and have a little more pass rush upside. Whatever the case, it sounds like Allen doesn’t see the same value in Billings as the previous staff did. We will see what the final decision is by Tuesday afternoon.
