Predicting the 53 man roster for 2019

   Last year Matt Nagy strongly limited his starters snap counts on preseason, this time he almost didn't even let them touch the field. Even without saying anything, everyone knew David Montgomery got the job once he didn't take the field after the opening game against the Panthers. Nagy isn't joking around, he wants to get to the start of the season at full health with a team itching for some contact against real opponents, what better to go all out against the Packers in Soldier Field at a prime time hour.

   Because of this, the 53 man roster for this yeas is fairly easy to predict when talking about the starters, but once you get to the backups, it isn't that easy and in some cases it doesn't feel right or its just that this team has the chance to be very versatile.  

QB - M. Trubisky, C. Daniel

   Finally its the moment of truth, this year Mitchell Trubisky has to take a big step forward and I don't mean in numbers, he is a veteran now and a leader of this team with one full year to digest Nagys playbook. He has to show what he is made of and get things done when needed and has already shown his is capable, its time to show more consistency. Even if he doesn't put the big numbers, winning is what matters and if he can minimize the mistakes, he should be just fine. What is not fine is what Chase Daniel has shown on this preseason, some of the shaky play can be put on the inconsistency of backup players and rookies, but just part of it. Its best if he is just there to help Trubisky with the game plan and giving the high fives, but its getting to the point where Ryan Pace should start searching for a better prospect.

RB - D. Montgomery, T. Cohen, M. Davis, R. Nall

   I'm giving the last spot to Ryan Nall instead of Kerrith Whyte although I had both of them at one point. I like Whyte speed at the RB position and as a KR but I don't see him getting snaps unless someone gets injured, Nall I can see him on the field to deceive the defense as a FB because he is a more all around player than Whyte who I believe isn't ready yet to make a difference but should be a priority to get him signed on the practice squad.

WR - A. Robinson II, T. Gabriel, A. Miller, J. Wims, C. Patterson, R. Ridley

   Javon Wims deserves a spot here with a superb camp and showed good play with the snaps he got this preseason. Cordarell Patterson will be an offensive and special teams weapon. Last spot goes to Riley Ridley who displayed enough talent to surpass the other WRs on the team with good size, hands and rout running.

TE - T. Burton, A. Shaheen, B. Braunecker, I. Bunting, D. Raymond

   This is were it gets tricky, the Bradley Sowell experiment didn't convince me and its not easy to not pick him with the hard work he put on for the transition he made from OT to TE, but I just didn't see enough of him as a consistent blocker and didn't display any pass catching or rout running skills to really consider him viable. Ian Bunting showed ups and downs but showed something and mostly was that he can be a passing threat up the middle who can shed tackles. Dax Raymond showed good blocking and right now I believe he is a better TE than Sowell. Ben Braunecker isn't that special but does everything OK and it helps that he should be more familiar with the system.

OL - C. Leno Jr., C. Whitehair, J. Daniels, K. Long, B. Massie, A. Bars, T. Larsen, R. Coward

   I'm a bit disappointed that Ted Larsen deserves a spot because nobody else really showed better skills than him but Alex Bars really is a good surprise, he really showed dominance at the guard position and didn't look bad at the OT position and even looked better that the other guys playing for a OT spot. Rashaad Coward is here just because I felt obligated to put one OT of the group as a backup but Bars looked way better and it wouldn't shock me if the team decided to not go with Coward and instead make room for someone else, in my case it could be Sowell or Whyte. a free agent pickup wouldn't be surprising.

DL - A. Hicks, E. Goldman, B. Nichols, R. Robertson-Harris, A. Anderson, N. Williams

   Jonathan Bullard's time with the team has been on a string for a while now at I believe his time is up, I liked what I saw from Abdullah Anderson this preseason and I still haven't seen any dominance from Bullard so I give his spot to Anderon. Nicholas Williams played well and could be a good backup if the team wants to go with six D-linemen or maybe they will use it on another LB.

ILB - D. Trevathan, R. Smith, N. Kwiatkoski, J. Iyiegbuniwe

   Nick Kwiatkoski lives another day... or season, he shows that even if he isn't good at covering, he has good value near the line of scrimmage against the run and even can show some pass rushing moves. Joel Iyiegbuniwe is here because I couldn't decide who played well enough to get this spot, it could easily go to anyone else from the ILBs or no one at all. A free agent could be a posibility.

OLB - K. Mack, L. Floyd, A. Lynch, I. Irving

   Isaiah Irving get the nod but not by much, Kylie Fitts showed near even trait than Irving but I saw more hustle by Irving so I chose him, Fitts could still make the team if Williams or Iyiegbuniwe don't get picked.

CB - K. Fuller, P. Amukamara, B. Skrine, K. Toliver, D. Shelley. M. Joseph

   Duke Shelley is pure hustle and I love it, I expect big things from him and would be very disappointed if he doesn't make the team. Cant say the same about Michael Joseph, again I just chose him because I didn't like how John Franklin III got burned badly by second and third squad WRs and Clifton Duck although he showed good things I don't believe he is ready for the league but should be considered for the practice squad.

S - E. Jackson, H. Clinton-Dix, D. Bush, S. McManis, D. Houston-Carson

   Deon Bush showed the team that he should be considered to start at SS, time will tell. Sherick McManis is an average back that can do decent wherever he is placed but his value is at STs as is DeAndre Houston-Carson.

K - E. Piniero
   I had my money on Elliott Fry but his miss against the Giants gave way to Eddie Piniero getting picked because of his stronger leg. Rumors say that there is a chance Pace could go for a free agent leg, so solidifying this position could be far from over. Damn you John Fox...

P - P. O'Donnell
   Hey Pat's back.

LS - P. Scales
   Hey so is the other one. 

   Many if not every battle for the last sport on their respective group should be determined with their contribution at STs because that area needs to get better, its going to be tough even for this defense to stop offenses from getting points if they are getting great field position on KOs and punts regularly as its happening lately.

2019 Offseason

   Its August, football is back... sort of. Its still a ways to go for meaningful football but something is better than nothing I guess, this period is mostly for the rookies to show their guts so they can be considered to be part of the final 53 man roster or the practice squad. Football news is blowing up and the only thing I'm interested in is to not hear that someone in the team got hurt.

The draft is a thing of the past, free agency and trade options are mostly over for the Bears who are very limited in cap space, it would be really surprising if they did something significant at this stage of the season. So, now a recap of the additions to the team from this offseason.

   With limited picks in this years draft Ryan Pace did what he has been doing since being GM for the Bears and that is getting his guys no matter what and no matter where they competed.

   David Montgomery - Ryan Pace made yet another move, went up the board and drafted someone I didn't imagine would be available in the third round, Montgomery was my favorite RB to get drafted by the Bears, so yeah I loved this pick. I believe Montgomery will do well in Matt Nagy's system, it will all depend on how fast he can digest the playbook and how healthy he can stay. He wont have to do it all on his own the first time around with good depth at the RB position. Running the ball is extremely important but it helps that every RB in the roster right now is descent at catching the ball.

   Riley Ridley - A good route runner with size and good hands, comes in to make the depth at WR even deeper, I don't know if there was another time the WR position was this talented and versatile. 

   Duke Shelley - I didn't see any gameplay of Shelley until he got drafted and I was surprised that he wasn't really considered on draft boards or talked about more by analysts, he looks to be a very fierce nickel corner with quickness, tenacity and ball skills.

   Kerrith Whyte - A speedy running back who can punish defenses if they don't pay attention. Speed is something that the Bears have lacked for some time, its good to have it at hand.

   Stephen Denmark - A very raw CB with size and a nasty tackler, can go up and get it as he has WR experience but has no feet technique and is not fluid enough to be called a corner yet, still relies to much on his physique and speed.

Free agent rookie signings that caught my eye,

   Alex Bars & Sam Mustipher get to reunite with their Oline coach ones more, familiarity can only help them get to speed much quicker.

   Emanuel Hall was considered by some analysts to have slipped at the draft, an all around WR that will help to generate competition in an already crowded and talented WR core.

   Chuck Harris the successor of Khalil Mack at Buffalo will be following the footsteps of his former teammate and hopefully learn as much as possible from him. 

   Dax Raymond was one of my favorite TEs in the draft who is still raw but has good potential to be a big red zone threat once he gets the hang of things. He will be pushing for Ben Braunekers spot in the depth chart.

   Mathieu Betts gets to show why he was drafted 3nd overall in the CFL. In games he has shown good strength and a big motor as a pass rusher from the edge, him and Harris will have to show big potential to catch up to RRH and Aron Lynch.

Even with good money spent on big talent already on the team, Pace got some needed help via free agency to fill some holes on the depth chart and strengthen other areas.

   Mike Davis mixes well with what the Bears already have at the RB position, brings experience, shows good speed and agility, not afraid to lower the shoulder and can catch out of the backfield.

   Buster Skrine was brought in to replace Bryce Callahan, is similar in size but with a better health record although he hasn't put the numbers Callahan has, still with the drafting of Shelley I don't believe the nickel position will be given to Skrine and will have to compete for it, which is how it should be.

   Cordarelle Patterson is one of the best pickups at free agency for the Bears, hopefully he can get the offense in much better position with some good returns on kickoffs. He has shown to be a dangerous returner and can be a gadget player in Nagys offense to confuse the defense even more than last season lining him up at WR or RB.

   HaHa Clinton-Dix could be considered the best pick up in terms of value, talent and need. Still, it will be interesting to see two deep safety's on the field at the same time but it could end up being fun watching opposing QBs think twice when wanting to go deep.

   Marvin Hall another speedy receiver to the mix who I see as backup to Taylor Gabriel and at the return game.

   Ted Larsen returns as an experience interior lineman who, if he gets to be on the team, I hope doesn't get to play one down.

   Time to see some rookies develop and may the football gods have mercy on our starters.