Written by: John Stocco
Twitter: @realJohnStocco
The Chicago Bears released their depth chart a couple of days before the kickoff the preseason tomorrow night at Soldier Field against the Carolina Panthers. For the most part, nothing is really groundbreaking news, but in this piece, we’re going to take a deep dive on the depth chart and see which position has the most intriguing storylines during the course of four weeks of preseason football.
Quarterback
1st string: Mitch Trubisky
2nd string: Chase Daniel
3rd string: Tyler Bray
No shocker here folks. Mitch Trubisky is the quarterback, and even though we might not see a ton of Trubisky these next four weeks, this preseason is all about the progress Trubisky has made.
Running Back
1st string: Tarik Cohen
2nd string: Mike Davis
3rd string: David Montgomery
4th string: Ryan Nall
5th string: Kerrith Whyte Jr.
When you look at the top three running backs on the team, it doesn’t matter where they are on the depth chart. Matt Nagy is going to use all three running backs every week and they’re going to be big parts of the game plan. The competition comes with Nall and Whyte Jr, and I believe both players can make the 53 man roster. Nall is big, and he impressed the Bears last preseason. 6’2, 237, at Oregon State he ran for over 2,000 yards and received 563 yards totaling 24 touchdowns. The Bears used Michael Burton more than the average football team uses a fullback in 2018. Nall is fast enough, big enough, and strong enough to take over that fullback role who can do it all. Whyte Jr was drafted for special teams purposes. To make the 53 man team he needs to show bursts of speed wherever he’s playing.
Wide Receiver
1st string: Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel.
2nd string: Anthony Miller, Cordarrelle Patterson.
3rd string: Javon Wims, Riley Ridley.
4th string: Marvin Hall, Tanner Gentry.
5th string: Emanuel Hall, Jordan Williams-Lambert
Robinson is climbing back up the ladder as one of the league's best receivers, Anthony Miller is set to be a breakout star, and Gabriel and Patterson are going unnoticed which mind boggles me. They will be noticed much sooner than later. The best part will be the competition towards the bottom of the depth chart. Two Bulldogs in Wims and Ridley, Wyoming star Tanner Gentry, and the best UDFA Emanuel Hall all battling it out. Trubisky isn’t going to be throwing them the football, but this will still be the most exciting part of the 4th quarter in a preseason game.
Tight End
1st string: Trey Burton
2nd string: Adam Shaheen
3rd string: Ben Braunecker
4th string: Bradley Sowell
This is a problem for the Bears. Burton hasn’t been himself, Shaheen can’t stay healthy, Braunecker isn’t a starter, and Bradley Sowell might be the best option and he just spent his entire career as an offensive tackle. Journalistic integrity aside, I’m really pulling for Bradley Sowell.
Offensive Line
OT: Charles Leno, Bobbie Massie, Cornelius Lucas III, Rashaad Cowherd, TJ Clemmings, Marquez Tucker.
OG: Cody Whitehair, Kyle Long, Alex Bars, Ted Larsen.
C: James Daniels, Ted Larsen, Sam Mustipher.
Whitehair and Daniels switched positions this offseason and it’s going to be interesting to see how Whitehair and Daniels improve at their new positions, but old positions as Whitehair played guard at Kansas State, and Daniels was the center at Iowa. I’m interested to see the depth at the guard spot as we all know Kyle Long’s injury history. Bears know Ted Larsen is a dependable veteran, but my eyes are on Alex Bars. The Irishman is back with his old college OLine coach. Let’s see if that makes a difference and let’s see if the Bears have a starting guard on the horizon.
Defensive Line
DT: Akiem Hicks, Roy Robertson-Harris, Jonathan Harris,
NT: Eddie Goldman, Nick Williams, Daryle Banfield
DE: Bilal Nichols, Jonathan Bullard, Abdullah Anderson, Jalen Dalton.
Watch out for Bilal Nichols.
Edge Rushers
OLB: Khalil Mack, Isaiah Irving, Kylie Fitts, Chuck Harris.
OLB: Leonard Floyd, Aaron Lynch, James Vaughters, Mathieu Betts.
Just pray that Khalil Mack and Leonard Floyd stay healthy.
Linebackers
1st string: Danny Trevathan, Roquan Smith.
2nd string: Nick Kwiatkowski, Joel Iyiegbuniwe.
3rd string: Josh Woods, Kevin Pierre-Louis, Jameer Thurman.
Really looking to see how much of a step Roquan Smith takes in his second season in the NFL.
Cornerbacks
1st string: Kyle Fuller, Prince Amukamara.
2nd string: Buster Skrine, Kevin Tolliver II.
3rd string: Duke Shelley, John Franklin III.
4th string: Michael Joseph, Stephen Denmark, Clifton Duck.
I feel like people are underrating this group, and I can understand why. Outside Fuller and Amukamara people don’t know what else is there. Skrine has had a good camp, Shelley is a guy I have high hopes for and don’t forget about the corner out of LSU, Kevin Tolliver.
Safeties
1st string: Eddie Jackson, HaHa Clinton-Dix.
2nd string: Deon Bush, Deandre Houston-Carson.
3rd string: Jonathon Mincy, Sherrick McManis, Doyin Jibowu.
How will HaHa Clinton-Dix improve this defense? You have two safeties that can pick it on any given pass.
Kicker
1st string: Eddy Pineiro vs. Elliott Fry
The Bears biggest question mark. Thankfully, Pineiro and Fry have lit up training camp and have done a great job making this competition the most must-see competition in the NFL. The training camp competition is a nice watch on twitter, but now we have to see them kick in a game under the bright lights of the preseason.