Chicago Bears Preseason Preview

Posted by Eric Cook on August 6th, 2008 filed in Bear Insight, Bear Necessities, Cook's Corner, Features, Inside The Bears, Main, Notes & Observations, Opinions, Position Battles, Preview, Rookies, Training Camp

This time of year, everyone is optimistic, and hope spring eternal. Most NFL Teams have yet to play a pre-season game. Colts and Redskins excluded.

The Chicago Bears are deep into training camp and at least one rookie appears to have found his way to a starting role. The Bears released their starting depth chart and Matt Forte is listed as the starting running back.

Kyle Orton has been announced as the starter for Thursday’s home game against Kansas City.
Smith’s politically correct comments on Orton starting are this:

‘No real reason,” Smith said. ”My reason. You had to pick one, I picked one. That’s why there is a plan. Both of the guys know exactly when they are going to play.

”There’s nothing to it, not because one guy played a little bit better than the other. This is how we’re going to start it.”

My translation:

REX GROSSMAN IS OUR QUARTERBACK.

Why do I say that? Let me count the ways:

1) Grossman has a history of success against Seattle (week 2 Opponent).

2) One more week of practice with the receiving corps will make whoever QB’s week 2 look better. Devin Hester is still playing catch-up, he shou8ld be better with another week under his belt.

3) One more week to solidify the Bears patchwork Offensive line certainly can’t hurt whoever QB’s week 2.

4) Week 2 will be the game before the Bears will name their starters for offense for the 3rd pre -season game. This game is usually a dress rehearsal for the first Regular season game, with starters playing into the third quarter.

If Grossman plays well against Seattle, It will be an easier sell on starting him against San Fransisco Thursday night.

Just my interpretation though.

Offensive line right now is patchwork at best.

With Chris Williams out (we still really do not know what the Back problem is) I assume it is worse than they are letting on, there is also speculation that Williams took off practice to see a specialist. Lovie is being hush-hush on the whole situation:

Asked if Williams was excused Monday to see a specialist elsewhere, coach Smith said:

‘‘I am not going to go into all of that,” he said. ”He is getting treatment, and that is about as far as I can go.”

John St. Clair is the starting left Tackle. Most people say this spells doom for the Bears but I happen to think St. Clair is more capable than any other tackle on the line besides John Tait, I think he will be good enough until or when Williams is back.

My real concern is at left guard, where I expected St. Clair would start this year, once Williams solidified himself. Now with Terrence Metcalf injured, we are looking at try-outs on the left side with Josh Beekman and Anthony Oakley, Tyler Reed is also mentioned in the mix. None of these guys are rookies…although neither Reed or Beekman have played a regular season game.

My hunch is that Beekman is suited up at left guard for the Chiefs. So, the left side will be something to watch in that game. On the other hand, I think the right side will be the strength of the line, and Forte should find plenty of running room behind Garza and Tait (Garza is an exceptional run blocker and the right side is Tait’s natural position).

The wide receiving corps looks to be by committee for a while yet. The depth chart shows 4 possible starters.

WR–Rashied Davis/Devin Hester, WR–Marty Booker/Brandon Lloyd

Here is a quote from wide receivers coach Darryl Drake:
“We’ve got, in my opinion, four, five, six guys who have the ability to play,” said Drake, who probably will be limited to five wide receivers on game days.”

Does this mean there is no true number 1? Well obviously there is, but the Bears aren’t telling us, I think Hester, Booker, Davis, and Bradley will all be there, eventually I believe the fifth will be the rookie Earl Bennett. Rideau, Grice mullen and Monk will probably be practice squad or released. Hass and Rideau probably have the best chance of making it to the squad just because of tenure, But I think Hass will be on the final roster and Lloyd may bump Rideau off. The Bears carried seven Wide Receivers last year.

Here is the full depth chart recently released:

WR–Rashied Davis/Devin Hester, Mike Hass, Brandon Rideau, Ryan Grice-Mullen

WR–Marty Booker/Brandon Lloyd, Mark Bradley, Earl Bennett, Marcus Monk

Defense should be the strength of the team again, The fact that Ricky Manning junior is out of the loop means we have faster, more athletic cover guys all the way around. Brandon McGowan seems to be entrenched next to Mike Brown, lets hope Brown stays healthy.
The defensive line will be a little thin the first game, Dvoracek is nursing another injury, Harrison is just getting his feet wet, so it looks like Anthony Adams is at Nose tackle backed up by Matt Toeaina. I expect Dvoracek to get on the field this year though, at least I hope.

All reports are that Urlacher is healthier than ever and a new stretching program called Egoscue to treat musculoskeletal pain is helping him become more flexible and move easier.

The linebacking corps is intact With a healthy Urlacher, Briggs under contract and Hunter Hillenmeyer. The Defensive ends In Adewale Ogunleye and Alex Brown are set, with Mark Anderson as a situational pass rusher (where he is best suited).

So pre-season is the proving grounds for many positions on the Bears roster this year.

I watch with fear, apprehension and optimism, after all the Bears are undefeated right now.