The Offensive Depth Chart Discussion

[Sculpt]

I'm afraid I agree with every choice here.

QB: Trubisky, Daniel, Bray [IR]

The top 2 are obvious. I think the Bears will keep Bray through camp and to mop up pre-season 4 and then conveniently he will get injured in that 4th pre-season game before being placed on IR at his full salary and sticking around at Halas Hall to help out the down roster players on offense. Bray's knowledge of the system has enough value that paying him 795k is a steal at twice the price. The down roster RBs, WRs, and TEs will be working with a QB that knows the system all through camp and then after camp when he is put on IR they will continue to have him around, although not on the field. If an emergency comes up and you need a QB then you simply bring him off IR and he is the backup.

Not sure about Bray on IR... but I have confirmed Bray is not eligible for the Practice Squad. So him on IR is ideal.

As a third QB? We know Pace has always kept a 3rd QB so far. The Chiefs had Bray as their 3rd QB in 2013 and 2017 (was IR 2014, and Non-football Injury List 2015 with a tore ACL... did he tear while shopping at Walmart?) At any rate, if he doesn't go IR, there is a history for Bray as the 3rd QB.

RB: Howard, Cohen, Cunningham, Nall

My guess is that they will keep 4 RBs considering Cunningham and Nall should be core special teamers. Howard, Cohen and Cunningham are locks in my world. Cunningham can run the ball and is the 2nd best receiver in the group, which makes him an ideal backup for Howard and Cohen. The final spot seems to be a battle between Mizzel and Nall. Not getting to see much of Mizzel makes this difficult, but strictly from a size/athletic position Nall seems better equipped to step in if Howard is injured in short yardage or between the tackle situations. Add in the increased special teams value for Nall at 6'2" 232lbs, and the fact that he can possibly play FB and I think he offers more bottom of the roster versatility.

Nall was also a productive OLB in college, racking up tackles, the dude can be a standout ST player. Not to mention a FB/TE. Watching tape, he runs a lot like Howard... between the tackles, good vision following blocks, hard to bring down. All-around, better option than Mizzel.

​

WR: Robinson, Miller, Gabriel, Fowler, Wims, White

I think that with the total gong show that the WR position has been under Ryan Pace that the Bears need to keep 6 on the roster and ensure the maximum number of options and depth possible. The top 3 are obvious locks and arguably the best WR core we have seen 1-3 in a decade. After that there are some interesting decisions. White's money is guaranteed and he will be on the team until he goes on IR. That leaves 2 spots. Fowler is a bigger player, has flashed as a WR, and he is at least the equal to Bellamy on special teams. I think he makes it as the WR designated for special teams. I think Wims was a very nice value in the 7th round and offers a downfield threat that can win contested catches. I do not see them letting him go and exposing him to waivers. Based on the improved depth this should be the last season that we need to endure Josh Bellamy.

I think Bears go 6 WR, specially if Wims can play ST.

Fowler/Bellamy - Fowler had 13 ST tackles last 2 years compared to Bellamy's 8. They have very similar receiving stats, with Bellamy more YPC, but Fowler more TDs... 3 to 1 last year. Fowler 2 yrs younger and they just brought him in. I'd likely see the switch to Fowler.

Wims has not played ST, but he's a big physical WR (6'4" 215) who most likely can. His size makes him an ideal outside receiver backup, and endzone target. I think they try hard to keep him on the 53, not that he would be absolutely snatched from the PS, but I think Bears want to see what he can do against NFL talent sooner than later.

TE: Burton, Shaheen, Sims, Brown

This is a position where I have had the most debate about whether I see them carrying 3-4 players. There is a decent amount of young talent at this position and guys that can contribute so I think they find a way to keep Brown. I wish they had let Sims option pass and cut him, but alas he will be on the team. Brown to me has flashed enough as a receiving threat that can be split out that he should be kept. He can fill the Burton role if he is injured, a role that Shaheen and Sims are not really physically capable of filling. Sims provides depth at the inline position behind Shaheen.

At this point I think Bears keep 4 TEs as well. Brown plays ST and has nice hands, and a better tall zedzone receiver than Sims. But he's on the bubble for sure.

Brown - had 3 tackles, but more so 16 rec and a TD last year. Braunecker had 1 more tackle, but only 4 rec.
​

LT: Leno, Sowell
LG: Daniels, Morgan
C: Whitehair, Kush
RG: Long
RT: Massie, Watford

Normally the Bears have carried 8 OLmen, I think this is a year where we could see them carry 9 to ensure that they do not run out of players and that they are covered for Long not coming back to full speed. Sowell got almost 1 million guaranteed, which tells me he is likely the swing OT. I do not think he is very good, but he has multiple starts in the league at LT and that experience is very valuable. Watford has starts at RT and RG and is a veteran that can be leaned on if younger players are not ready, so I think that he will make the team or at least have an inside track. Kush can play all over the interior line and looked good 2 years ago when he started. Morgan is a bit of a wildcard, we didn't see much last season, but he is a 5th round pick who we should see what Hiestand can do with. I think that Kush and Sowell will be the active backups on game day and that Watford/Kush would compete at RG if Kyle Long is not prepared to play. Watford was running with the 1s at mini camp, which tells me that Grasu is not in the plans.

Morgan - Yes, it's hard to predict the backups without knowing what's up with Morgan, who can really play any position. With Kush's dicey injury history, I think the Bears would be happy to ditch Kush for Morgan. Or even over Watford who only has 500k guaranteed, same as Kush (though I think they keep him).

Grasu - did not play well last year, but he will be reunited with OC Helfich, who he played for 2013-14 at Oregon, and with a zoneblocking scheme, they'll look at Grasu, but I certainly don't expect him to turn things around.

I think if Morgan looks great, there will be the temptation to go with 8 OL, and drop one of Kush or Watford, more likely Kush. But if Long is not playing in TC, and becomes an unknown, looks more like 9 OL.

25 Offensive Players

Or 26 if they put Bray as 3rd QB and keep 9 OL.

 

[SlickWilly]

Not really. When faced with an absence of information, the answer is never wild speculation. Doesn't matter where you are or what you are doing. Wild, uninformed speculation is never the answer. If this shit is all you can think of posting on here, maybe just go look at porn for 5 minutes instead.

Yeah, God forbid people discuss football on a football message board. Crying about football discussion on a football message board is pretty fucking stupid. You can log the fuck off if it bothers you that much, you do have that option.

 

[Tostada]

Bellamy can't be replaced....

 

[SugarWalls]

Bellamy can't be replaced....

Mierda

 

[Outlaw Josey Cutler]

Not really. When faced with an absence of information, the answer is never wild speculation. Doesn't matter where you are or what you are doing. Wild, uninformed speculation is never the answer. If this shit is all you can think of posting on here, maybe just go look at porn for 5 minutes instead.

Pull over, everyone. Self-appointed Posting Police caught us.

Apparently discussing depth and position battles is wild and uninformed speculation.

Officer, here is my license and registration. Also please note my bumper sticker's support of all lives mattering.

Question: if I know someone who posted a video of someone else speculating about how letting Allen Robinson go to the Bears was a mistake for the Jaguars, does that constitute wild and uninformed speculation? Or is it ok because the poster in question kept his own personal thoughts out of it? Just checking your "rules for posting vs. not posting and going to porn instead". Thanks in advance.

 

[Chris Sojka]

Wims has shown he can catch the ball with players draped all over him. So getting open is irrelevant for him. He's a specialist guys, when its 3rd and 12 and the best corner is covering Robinson the 2nd CB is having success covering gabriel or Miller, then you'd look for him in a scramble throw it somewhere close and let him do something special to bring it in.

 

[Outlaw Josey Cutler]

Wims has shown he can catch the ball with players draped all over him. So getting open is irrelevant for him. He's a specialist guys, when its 3rd and 12 and the best corner is covering Robinson the 2nd CB is having success covering gabriel or Miller, then you'd look for him in a scramble throw it somewhere close and let him do something special to bring it in.

In college, yes. In the NFL that will be far more challenging so getting open isn't exactly irrelevant. Jeffrey and Marshall were good 50-50 ball players but their games were far more developed than that. If one HAD to at the end of a half or so, then a QB could throw a 50-50 to Jeffrey and Marshall. Wims can't make it with that skill alone (no one can). And if Wims can't create his own separation on a Trubisky scramble like you lay out, then he flat out won't make it in the league. Wims is a player I am interested in watching come camp.

 

[Chris Sojka]

In college, yes. In the NFL that will be far more challenging so getting open isn't exactly irrelevant. Jeffrey and Marshall were good 50-50 ball players but their games were far more developed than that. If one HAD to at the end of a half or so, then a QB could throw a 50-50 to Jeffrey and Marshall. Wims can't make it with that skill alone (no one can). And if Wims can't create his own separation on a Trubisky scramble like you lay out, then he flat out won't make it in the league. Wims is a player I am interested in watching come camp.

I somewhat agree... but that's why hes a 7th rounder.

When plays break down is when players move a few feet and create separation. That's basically what Seattle's offense is under Russell Wilson. Bunch of no names waiting for the defense to get tired and stand still then going up and grabbing it. Those aren't timing routes.

 

[Aesopian]