Written by: John Stocco
Twitter: @realJohnStocco
Preseason has come and went and thankfully there were no severe injuries for the Chicago Bears. Now it’s all gas no brakes heading into Thursday night against the Green Bay Packers. Here’s a look at my roster projection the day after the preseason finale as I believe this is the team we’re going to war within the 2019 season as we defend the NFC North crown and try making our way back to the Super Bowl.
QB:
1, Mitch Trubisky
2, Chase Daniel
It’s the biggest season of Trubisky’s career, and I believe he will answer the challenge. More experience, growth in knowledge, and a growth in confidence. With how badly Daniel looked this preseason I pray every single day that Trubisky stays healthy.
RB:
1, David Montgomery
2, Tarik Cohen
3, Mike Davis
4, Kerrith Whyte
People have caught on and they have finally noticed just how dangerous this running back core can be. Montgomery, Cohen, and Davis will be factored in games week to week as Whyte will be looking to give us that spark on special teams.
FB:
1, Ryan Nall
The star of the preseason. Ryan Nall has been too good to be kept off the 53-man roster as he plays similar to Anthony Sherman. Long-time Chiefs fullback under Andy Reid and Matt Nagy.
WR:
1, Allen Robinson
2, Javon Wims
3, Taylor Gabriel
4, Anthony Miller
5, Cordarrle Patterson
6, Riley Ridley
7, Thomas Ives
Robinson and Gabriel will produce for Trubisky, but my eyes are on breakout candidates Javon Wims and Anthony Miller to put this group over the top. The last spot for receiver is a tough one. Marvin Hall has been a disappointment all preseason, and Thomas Ives has impressed everyone in Chicago with his recent play. If Ives doesn’t make the Bears 53-man team, there will be another team calling his number instantly. I vote for keeping him and making him a star for the Chicago Bears.
TE:
1, Trey Burton
2, Adam Shaheen
3, Ben Braunecker
4, Bradley Sowell
5, Ian Bunting
Five tight ends sound excessive, but with the injury concerns with Burton and Shaheen, five tight ends might not be enough. Braunecker and Sowell show their strengths as blockers, and Ian Bunting has played better than Dax Raymond and Jesper Horsted this preseason.
OT:
1, Bobbie Massie
2, Charles Leno Jr
3, Rashaad Coward
It’s a thin group and I believe Alex Bars will make his way over to offensive tackle to help out the depth in case of an injury.
OG:
1, Kyle Long
2, Cody Whitehair
3, Ted Larsen
4, Alex Bars
I like this group as long as everyone stays healthy. Cody Whitehair goes back to his natural position, and if Kyle Long repeats history and misses games the Bears have veteran guard Ted Larsen that could fill in anywhere you put him.
C:
1, James Daniels
Just like Whitehair, the big man from Iowa and goes back to his natural position as a center. Offensive line coach Harry Heistand has liked his progression and his development. Daniels is ready to take that next step and anchor the offensive line.
DT:
1, Akiem Hicks
2, Roy Robertson-Harris
Depth is the key here. Hicks isn’t going anywhere, but RR Harris is a great plug and play player. Put him anywhere on the line and you can depend on him to produce on the field.
DE:
1, Bilal Nichols
Said it before, and I’ll say it again, Bilal Nichols, along with Javon Wims, will become household names for the Bears this season.
NT:
1, Eddie Goldman
2, Nick Williams
Nick Williams has played well this preseason, and he’ll be backing up the unsung hero for the Bears, Eddie Goldman. His contract extension looks better and better every day.
Edge:
1, Khalil Mack
2, Leonard Floyd
3, Aaron Lynch
4, James Vaughteers
5, Isaiah Irving
Last year we didn’t have much depth at edge rusher, but this year is different. Lynch is back on another one year deal, Irving has had a solid preseason, and Vaughteers has been the defensive star for the Bears preseason.
ILB:
1, Roquan Smith
2, Danny Trevathan
3, Joel Iyiegebunwie
4, Nick Kwiatkowski
I was thinking about Kwiatkowski being the one surprise cut, but last night when the Bears were playing the Titans, Kwiatkowski didn’t even play. That tells me he made the team and this is our linebacker group.
CB:
1, Kyle Fuller
2, Prince Amukamara
3, Buster Skrine
4, Duke Shelley
5, Kevin Toliver
Toliver beats out John Franklin III, Michael Joseph sadly becomes a player that gets cut, and Clifton Duck heads to the practice squad.
S:
1, Eddie Jackson
2, HaHa Clinton-Dix
3, Deon Bush
4, Sherrick McManus
Bush has been a man on a mission this preseason by making a ton of big plays, and McManus is the captain of the special teams. This leaves Deandre Houston-Carson as the player that gets the pink slip.
Special Teams
1, Eddy Pineiro
2, Pat O’Donnell
3, Patrick Scales
Bears cut Elliott Fry a couple weeks back which made Eddy Pineiro the man at the kicker position. I’m still in favor of signing Carli Lloyd.
Notable Cuts:
1, Marvin Hall
2, Jonathan Bullard
3, John Franklin III
4, Taquan Mizzell
5, Deandre Houston-Carson
6, Kylie Fitts
7, Josh Woods
Breakout Player: David Montgomery
Comeback Player: Kyle Long
Rising Star: Bilal Nichols
Player to Not Forget About: Cordarrelle Patterson
Player in the Hot Seat: Adam Shaheen
Under the Radar: Duke Shelley
Dark Horse MVP: Mitch Trubisky
Kicking off the 100th season of the NFL. The two founding fathers of football collide. Bears vs. Packers. Soldier Field. If you’re not ready for this then I’d advise you to check yourself into the ER because you’re probably dead.