| 18 June 2010
The Bears wrap up their third week of OTA workouts with nothing but good news in the participation department. While these workouts are completely voluntary, other than some of the injured players who are healing from off-season surgeries the Bears have had pretty solid attendance all the way around. With all the rookies under contract the team will make a smooth transition as it heads into training camp at the tail end of July.
Thus far the work has been essentially putting in the new offense led by Martz with not a lot of big news to this point of the off-season activities.
The real news of note seems to be Caleb Hanie has the backup QB job on lock down for the time being. Hanie has been as good as expected which I suppose isn’t saying much given that rookie Dan LeFevour is essentially holding a clip board and likely will be for the long term of the 2010 season. Hanie will enter training camp as the uncontested backup QB deservedly so to this point As of now it seems the Bears would only add a veteran if one becomes available after most teams break training camp and start to cut rosters down to size and said QB has experience in the Mike Martz offense. The likelihood that that type of perfect storm comes together to unseat Hanie as the backup seems fairly remote. Meaning from this point forward if Martz talks about adding a veteran QB he’s essentially repeating the scenario to put anxious fans at ease who may be worried that Hanie is a completely green and inexperienced backup.
Also around the offense the receivers continue to establish themselves as arguably the deepest position group on the team. The linebackers have the two Pro Bowlers at the top, but the talent beyond Urlacher and Briggs is questionable at best. Hester, Aromashodu are performing well but all the rave reviews belong to second year man Johnny Knox. Knox is taking to the level of expectations that have been heaped upon him and he’s working hard to become a better player. He’s polishing his route running and is becoming more consistent with his hands. While Knox never showed any problems with his hands or route running in ‘09, he took a while to absorb NFL caliber offenses and the speed of the game. Knox should perform better simply because he’ll be given more opportunities within Martz’s offense.
All the pressure is on Knox to excel within the new pass happy offense and by all reports he’s taking the expectations very seriously. He has been one of the hardest working players throughout the off-season and if everything comes together as expected he could have an extremely special year in 2010.
On the offensive line the news of note may not be news at all once Olin Kreutz comes into training camp as the returning starter at center. In Kreutz’s absence Josh Beekman has been working exclusively as the starting center on the offensive line. This is Beekman’s natural role and the position he has been groomed for since he was drafted. That being said Kreutz is clear and away the starter and the battle for the left guard spot right now is being won by 2009 practice squad player Johan Asiata. Asiata has won the starting job to this point, knocking off Lance Louis and not surprisingly forcing Kevin Shaffer back into his role as the backup swing offensive tackle. Shaffer backs up both sides meaning the left guard battle to this point is between Asiata and Louis.
This all of course could completely change when Beekman is bumped from his starting center role. I don’t see any reason why Beekman doesn’t get a chance to compete for the starting left guard spot in training camp once Kreutz is back. While it is news and has been news consistently throughout OTAs that Asiata has been earning praise from Mike Tice and has been running as the starter, we still won’t know much until the pads go on and Beekman gets a chance to compete. If Beekman is kept at center and Tice doesn’t want to disrupt his development at center (a highly unlikely scenario in my opinion) then Asiata could wind up being the starter at left guard for the 2010 season.
The question then becomes exactly how comfortable of a thought is it to have Asiata as the starter. An undrafted free agent who played on the practice squad behind Beekman, Louis and Omiyale in 2009, the Bears may be foolish to think Asiata is capable of being the starter, no matter HOW much promise he has shown.
Also any speculation that the Bears may be in the market for a veteran offensive guard seems to be continually dismissed by Jerry Angelo, at least publicly. Angelo speak is always hard to get a read on because he’s usually pretty non-committal. Angelo’s quotes usually are in the range of we’re always looking for ways to improve our football team, to we are comfortable right now going forward with the players we have in place. Which obviously never lends any credence to the rumors and reports out there regarding the Bears and their obvious offensive guard need.
The one rumor that heated up a bit this week was regarding Logan Makins a two-time Pro Bowler with the Patriots. Mankins reportedly wants out of Foxboro via trade, but the catch is he wants to be far and away the highest paid player at his position. That type of contract demand usually isn’t made by offensive guards, nor is it ever really met for offensive guards. The reports are that Mankins was offered top-five salary for his position but Mankins turned it down. Given that the Bears would have to swing a trade for a player who was tendered at a first round and third round pick AND THEN sign him to an extremely high value contract to boot, makes it extremely doubtful that the Bears would pursue Mankins.
On defense it’s been the Zack Bowman show and has been from mini-camp through OTAs. Bowman seems to be averaging an interception a practice. He’s been moved into Charles Tillman’s traditional number one CB role and he’s excelled in workouts throughout the off-season.
Is this a sign of true progress on the part of Bowman or is it a sign of offensive mistakes combined with Bowman’s typical off-season level of high play. The answer to that may come from just how healthy Bowman stays throughout training camp and the season. Bowman has the ability, now it’s just a matter of him living up to his talent and performing at the level he is expected to play at. If Bowman does and the Bears get the expected boost in the pass rush from Julius Peppers, then the defense should play at a higher and more consistent level in 2010.
Perhaps the afterthought of OTA workouts to this point is Brian Urlacher. Beyond the Gale Sayers Brian Uralcher media inflated grudge match, the middle linebacker’s return has been completely glossed over. This is a good thing because Urlacher stepping back into a regular role where he isn’t making news means he is practicing at the level he should be. If Urlacher was making news beyond the Sayers controversy then it would like be negative news for his prospects in 2010. The Bears need their team captain on defense to simply go about his business and play up to his capabilities, this obviously provides another boost to the defense.
Back on offense the excitement is beginning to build around Matt Forte again who played most of 2009 with an injury. The OTA injury Forte dealt with in 2009 never full healed and it effected his play in all 16 games. Forte himself admitted as much this off-season but now states how excited he is to be fully healthy, as well as being pushed by Chester Taylor for the starting role. Forte couldn’t be in a better position of health, but also in a better frame of mind to compete for the starting job. Forte seems like he will continue to be the starter but he also understands full well how much of a benefit Taylor will be to prolonging his career. This two headed attack hopefully can be as productive as the 2006 duo of Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson.
All things considered the Bears are in a good spot as of right now. Will this solid positive momentum carry over when the pads go on? That won’t be answered until in a little over a month, but for now if you’re a die hard Grabowski then any news you receive during the long hot days of summer, is good news.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
