Predicting the 53 man roster of 2017

      The rehearsal game is done with only one more game left to finish the 2017 preseason and it couldn’t come soon enough. Sadly, the damage is done losing Cameron Meredith for the season, pushing Kevin White to the scene and be the next “X” receiver for the Bears and show the league that he is truly the pro caliber WR Ryan Pace envisioned when drafting him 7^th overall two years ago.

   Mike Glennon showed what he is capable of on the first series against the Titans defense, but he also showed he is still inconsistent throwing inaccurate passes to his open receivers. One positive thing he showed on Sunday is that he took better care of the ball, he still struggles to find the better reciving option to throw at but protecting the ball should be his priority, it’s one of the things that led to Cutler being cut. Glennon and coach Fox must realize now more than ever that losing the top WR and playing with receivers still grasping the playbook means this team will have to go forward with the run game and protecting the ball, play with double or even triple TE formations taking advantage of a position of strength and a rising defensive unit. Zach Miller and Dion Sims look the part of solid TEs and Adam Shaheen is getting confidence with each game as is Tarik Cohen who is part of a strong RB group that I believe that can run the ball all day behind the O-line that includes Kyle Long returning and moving Cody Whitehair back to center while he gets accustomed to his new position at LG. If Long takes a step back because of health forcing to leave Hroniss Grasu at center, there will be a significant difference but the plan to run the ball more that 50% of the plays should not change. It seems the O-line has trouble getting to the second level to block for bigger gains, but I’ll have to wait and see if it improves once the season starts and Long returns.

   The starting defense has played solid especially the front seven where Akiem Hicks is the key player. Like Eddie Goldman, he disrupts the line and gets to the ball and takes double coverages almost every time and still makes plays, they feed off each other but I believe that Hicks takes the lead as the veteran he is. There is lots of talent in this group that it can become one of the strongest in the league if Vic Fangio makes them play to their potential.

   This are the players I believe will make the 53 man roster this year.

QB Mike Glennon, Mitchell Trubiski

   This is still Glennon’s team to lose, he will have to pick up the pace rather quickly if he wants to stay the starter. Trubiski has shown he can play but not enough to know if he can handle the 1^st team only because he didn’t have much chance to demonstrate it. There is no need to throw him in to play if not necessary, the position is set to be a strength with a promising QB on the bench and every day he can get better by learning and practicing the playbook, the better for the team. They can Jimmy Garoppolo the hell out of Trubisky in a scenario where Glennon happens to play like an all pro. Only thing that I ignore is how much time this can go on without hurting the team’s salary cap. When and if this becomes an issue where someone else needs to be signed long term is when, most likely, Glennon gets cut.

   I don’t have a reason to believe Mark Sanchez will stay signed unless it is to keep being the mentor/advisor to these somewhat inexperienced QBs but I believe they can manage without him and open up a space for another position. Getting Connor Shaw on the practice squad would be ideal.

RB Jordan Howard, Jeremy Langford, Tarik Cohen, Benny Cunningham

   The injury to Ka’Deem Carey, although unfortunate, opens the possibility for Cunningham to be the fourth RB of the group. He has shown great skill at the RB and KR/PR positions and can catch the ball. I prefer having four RBs that a FB, but there’s the possibility that the team decides to go with 4 TEs instead, leaving Cunningham out of the roster.

WR Kevin White, Kendall Wright, Victor Cruz, Markus Wheaton, Tanner Gentry, Deonte Thompson

   There is still talent left with Meredith out, just maybe not what we need. Wright is playing great but him and Cruz are more dangerous at the slot, Wheaton could be the “Y” but he hasn’t played yet, leaving Thompson as the more ready played but not necessarily the more talented. I feel like Gentry is better than Thompson but it would be risky to let him have the spot full time. It will be interesting to see the final depth chart at this position. One more player who could be considered to make the roster is Titus Davis, getting him on the practice squad would be great.

TE Zach Miller, Dion Sims, Adam Shaheen

   I’m giving Shaheen the nod just because he looks to be getting better every game he plays, he needs to get more comfortable and gain confidence and the only way to get it is if he gets to play some snaps on gameday. If the team goes with another TE I believe it will be Daniel Brown who I saw got more looks by Trubisky with the 2^nd team.

OL Charles Leno Jr., Kyle Long, Cody Withehair, Josh Sitton, Bobby Massie, Hroniss Grasu, William Poehls, Tom Compton

   As I mentioned, with Long I believe this line is set to run the ball, it still struggles with pass protection and it may be Glennon’s demise with his lack of mobility in the pocket. The need to set a game plan that lets the QB get rid of the ball quick and trick the defense with screens and bootlegs is of high importance. This is why there is some much hype surrounding Trubisky because of his mobility and accuracy while on the move that helped the line look good. But until the day comes, its Leno and Massie’s job to keep Glennon whole in the pocket.

DL Mitch Unrein, Eddie Goldman, Akiem Hicks, Jonathan Bullard, John Jenkins, Jaye Howard

   Only thing I don’t like about this group is that it’s not young but it’s not old either, as a matter of fact aside from Goldman and Bullard, everyone else is at their prime and ready to prove their worth. If they can make a space for Roy Robertson-Harris or prefer him instead of someone else like Howard or Unrein, I would be alright with it giving more of a balance of youth and experience to the group. They could consider him to get on the practice squad but I don’t think he would be there for long, losing him to another team would be really bad.

LB Leonard Floyd, Danny Trevathan, Jerrel Freeman, Lamarr Houston, Willie Young, Nick Kiatkoski, Christian Jones, Dan Skuta, Sam Acho

   The absence of Pernell McPhee is palpable, Houston just doesn’t do what McPhee can and would make this group scary good. Kwiatkoski can keep the LILB spot with no problem until Trevathan is healthy enough to play if that is the case, but maybe if it takes him to long Kwiatkoski may solidify himself at the position.

DB Prince Amukamara, Marcus Cooper, Cre’Von LeBlanc, Kyle Fuller, Sherrick McManis, Bryce Callahan, B.W. Webb, Quintin Demps, Eddie Jackson, Adrian Amos, Deiondre Hall, Deon Bush

   The CB position is anyone’s guess due to injuries, Callahan and Amukamara haven’t been able to stay healthy but are to talented to let go, but Johnthan Banks on the other hand hasn’t been able to showcase his skills since he got picked up last season. I like that Jackson got the opportunity to play with the 1^st team, although he didn’t do much I expect him to start at FS and learn on the go because I believe he has better speed and ball skills than Amos, who can still get to play if Demps doesn’t cut it. Same goes to Fuller if Amukamara gets hurt more or Cooper folds, but he has GOT to get better at tracking the ball, he’s there but just doesn’t turn his head.

K Connor Barth

   Nice move by Ryan Pace of bringing in Roberto Aguayo, Barth’s nemesis from the Bay, to challenge him for the spot. Looks like it’s working for now, let’s hope it transcends to the season.

P Pat O’Donnell

   Still crushing it.

LS Jeff Overhaugh

   Injury to Patrick Scales opens the door to newcomer Overhaugh. The season hasn’t started and there’s already four players on IR and possibly two on the PUP list, are we trying to beat the Chargers or what? Sheesh.

   This team is heading to a very strong schedule and they don’t have much time to get it together as the first half alone looks to be brutal from the start. Looking at this seasons schedule I envision this team going 6-10 aside of players getting injured, but less than this and I think John Fox and Loggains are gone, not Pace, at least not yet. I believe he is bringing talent to the team and I don’t know how much he was part of the selection of Fox as HC. Although his decisions on contracts are somewhat questionable and that could get him into trouble in the future. But as I said, I believe there is enough talent on the team and finishing with an 8-8 or a 9-7 record would say that the team took a step forward, more than that could put them in the playoffs and would be an automatic win just with that accomplishment.

Let’s get this season started already.

1st Pre-season Game 2017

   Some thoughts on the team after their first preseason game against the Broncos. Although this is still a mirage of what’s to come when the season starts, it’s still more real than what happens on training camp.

   Starting with what was evident but it’s the most important thing to point out, Mike Glennon’s interception on his second pass attempt was the result of a horrible decision, floating the pass where there where 3 broncos and a striding Bear on a deep route. Aside that Kendall Wright was open in the middle and there was a clear penalty for contact to Glennon’s facemask, that pass was never meant to be throw there. Glennon is big and slow, bootlegs are an eternity to him and his attempted pass while running from pressure was awful to the feet of Zach Miller who was less than 10 yards away. If he had taken the sack instead of the turnover, his dreadful QB rating would mean nothing because its 1 qtr of the preseason and there’s still 2 more games to play to clean things up which will not get easier against the Cards and Titans defenses. Mark Sanchez looks like a washed-up backup QB, let’s see how much time his experience gives him a spot on the team.

   There was little to no running game in the first quarter to shed some pressure of Glennon, the O-line struggled to move the pile and maintain their assignment, at least one guy at each play seemed to lose containment resulting in short gains by the running backs. One I consider had a bad day was Hroniss Grasu who didn’t look strong enough on the run game. Jordan Howard got stuffed in his three attempts, it wasn’t until late in the second quarter that it started to come to life where the rest of the running backs shined with solid playing. Tarik Cohen look’s the part of a change of pace back and is willing to block, didn’t like when at the hand off he hasitated or tried to make a little juke to try to confuse the defense instead of flowing with the play like Benny Cunningham did, he followed the play and made the juke of spin move when necessary, he’s not as fast and elusive as Cohen but he is stronger and can get short yardage with power. Kadeem Carey is the hammer who can still get those tough short yards on third down. Joshua Rounds looked like an all-around average running back who lacks vision at the NFL level. Carey and Cunningham are in for a battle for a spot if the team decides to go with 4 RB’s and no FB. Maybe Jeremy Langford looses his job due to injury? If Cunningham is out of the PR/KR competition, it’s going to be harder for him to win a spot.

   Out of the receivers, everybody seemed to have contributed in some way by catching a pass or just blocking up front. The one guy I was disappointed on was Adam Shaheen who dropped 2 passes by trying to catch it with his body and didn’t look to good pass protecting. Hope he improves quickly because there is too much competition at TE and doesn’t result in droping someone else who looked good  because of the high expectations Shaheen could bring.

   Defensively, aside from the fourth quarter, looked good, no turnovers but they kept the offense from producing big plays and held them to ten points. They pressured the QB several times but Trevor Siemian did a good job of getting rid of the ball quickly. There were flashes of things I’d like to see more of like Leonard Floyd and Johnathan Bullard’s speed and Akiem Hicks and Mitch Unrein’s disruption in the line of scrimmage but who took my attention was Nick Kwiatkoski who seems to have improved his game. DB’s and S’s were silent but made tackles when needed, one missed interception by Chris Prosinski was the closes to a turnover the Bears had all night.

   Finally, Mitch Trubisky comes in and revives a passing game that was none existent in the first half and rips the third and fourth stringers of the Broncos for the first score looking like a second round pick, making Deonte Thompson and Ruben Randall look good. Things that impressed me where the accurate throws on the run in bootlegs and that he always maintained vision downfield. Displayed awareness in the pocket and showed composure when the pocket drew smaller or when he got pressured he would climb the pocket not losing his field vision. Showed good footwork, no problems with the snaps under center and ran when needed and most importantly he protected himself. He didn’t throw deep missing in his one attempt to Victor Cruz which was a bit overthrown but not enough to get intercepted. He did attempt intermediate throws that were on point. One bad action I saw is that on one play he jumped to throw the ball and it wasn’t necessary. Other than that, I thing he played excellent and believe he gained some necessary confidence and NFL experience besides Chicago’s hopes and dreams for now.