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2015 Depth Charts Update: Chicago Bears

CHI Off

CHI Def

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Notes

 

  • There are still question marks at offensive tackle, more so on the right than the left, but the interior of the Bears offensive line looks solid at this point. All three of Matt Slauson, Will Montgomery and Kyle Long have shown themselves to be better than average at this point in their careers.

 

  • The wide receiver group is interesting, with Brandon Marshall gone after a down year and Kevin White drafted early in the first round of the draft. Eddie Royal takes over in the slot, after averaging 1.31 Yards Per Route Run in that role in San Diego in 2014, good for 13th amongst slot receivers. The problem however, is that outside of Alshon Jeffery and Royal, we really haven't seen much of the depth chart at all, which could be a big concern if someone goes down injured.

 

  • The switch to a 3-4 has seen the Bears do some shifting on defense, with Lamarr Houston, Willie Young and Jared Allen all moving to outside linebacker. How they take to their new roles will be key, but the Bears also invested in Pernell McPhee, our second highest graded 3-4 outside linebacker last season, this offseason. What will be interesting with McPhee though, is how they use him. The Baltimore Ravens got the most out of McPhee by moving him around, and he was effective as an interior pass rusher too, so leaving him exclusively at outside linebacker might be a mistake.

 

  • Another question mark in their new defense is at inside linebacker, where neither Mason Foster or Jon Bostic, who graded poorly in coverage in 2014, and poorly against the run in 2013, stand out as capable starters. Christian Jones looks the leader to start at one spot, but we haven't seen much of him, while Shea McClellin had his best season in 2014, but that was driven entirely by his work against the run.

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