Anybody with common sense knew things weren’t going to stay the same under Ben Johnson once he took over as head coach. That was especially true on offense. What no one could say for sure was how extensive the changes would be. We’ve already gotten a taste of that following the bulk of the off-season. The Chicago Bears completely revamped their interior offensive line with three new starters. Then at the top of the draft, they armed Caleb Williams with not one but two explosive playmakers: tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden.
However, it appears Johnson is saving his boldest move for the offensive line. Chicago drafted Boston College standout Ozzy Trapilo 56th overall in the 2nd round. The immediate reaction was that he would jump into the competition at left tackle with Braxton Jones and Kiran Amegadjie. That may not be the case. In his recent column, Adam Hoge of CHGO revealed that Johnson may opt for a different approach. The Bears could choose o keep Trapilo at right tackle, which he started the most at in college, and move Darnell Wright to the left side.
“Perhaps more likely? Trapilo sticks at right tackle, and the Bears have to consider moving Darnell Wright over to left tackle. It’s a risky move that Bears fans might have to start taking seriously. This will be one of the more interesting storylines of the summer, but it wouldn’t completely surprise me if Trapilo is the Week 1 starter on the right side.”
Ben Johnson moving Wright would be bold.
He has spent the majority of his football career at right tackle. Shifting him over to the left side at this stage could interrupt his considerable progress over the past year. Is this even possible? Yes. Being a left tackle in the NFL requires one thing above all: athleticism. You’re often going against the most explosive pass rusher the opposing team has to offer. Wright is a very good athlete for his size. One must also point out he’d have plenty of help with the transition. Offensive line coach Dan Roushar is highly qualified for such things, and Wright would play next to a future Hall of Fame guard in Joe Thuney.
Trapilo is a good athlete, but not of Wright’s caliber. Ben Johnson likely believes the fastest track for the young tackle to get on the field is by playing his most familiar position, right tackle. It probably isn’t a coincidence that Trapilo was compared to Colton McKivitz, the San Francisco 49ers’ starting right tackle. His size alone makes him a good fit for that side. This is a situation where Johnson must be trusted. He needs to have the best five blockers on the field. If he thinks Wright can handle the switch, let it play out.
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