The Chicago Bears had an eventful, arguably historic, offseason. While there are still needs that need to be addressed, General Manager Ryan Poles proved himself and made great strides towards rebuilding the Bears. The roster is significantly better than it was at the end of last season, but there are several positions where a starting spot is up for grabs. So, with Phase III of Organized Team Activities (OTAs) underway, here are three position battles that are a must watch during camp.
Running Back
Khalil Herbert is the starting running back heading into OTAs, but the job is anyone’s game. During the offseason, the Bears signed D’Onta Foreman from the Carolina Panthers and drafted Rochon Johnson out of Texas.
Herbert’s size and running style fits perfectly in the Bears offense. He made great strides last season with rushing 731 yards and scoring four touchdowns in just 13 games. Herbert is explosive and had the most yards per attempt (5.7) out of any running back in the league. However, Herbert struggles in pass protection, as well as with pass-catching.
Johnson has amazing size and is an elite tackle-breaker, but he doesn’t have the experience yet to be a starting back in the NFL. Herbert’s biggest competition is Foreman. Foreman said he came to Chicago to be the starting back, and he has all the makings to do so. Foreman is coming off a career season in Carolina with rushing 913 yards and scoring five touchdowns. He is a proven workhorse and will do whatever it takes to succeed in Chicago.
Cornerback 2
Jaylon Johnson will be CB1 in Chicago yet again, but who will line up opposite him? The three names competing for the job are Jaylon Jones, Kindle Vildor, and rookie Tyrique Stevenson.
Jones signed as an undrafted free agent last season, and has everything that Poles wants in a player: athleticism, mentality, and physicality. He took advantage of every opportunity he got last season and is hungry for more. Like Jones, Vildor has earned the trust of the new coaching staff and has shown flashes of greatness. His biggest advantage? Vildor is underrated. He is quick, explosive, and not afraid to be physical. Vildor is extremely competitive and here to prove himself. He works hard and is ready to take that next step in his career. Despite all this, Stevenson is most likely to win the starting job. He was very impressive during rookie camp and has a lot expected from him. Stevenson is 6 feet tall and 200 lbs, and has great speed. His size makes him extremely physical. He is not afraid of going after the ball or making a hard-hit. With Stevenson on the line, traditions of a gritty and elite defense will begin to return to the Bears.
Center
The heart of the o-line is the center, which comes down to a two-man battle between Cody Whitehair and Lucas Patrick. Whitehair is a seven year veteran who has bounced between center and guard positions. He has established chemistry with the line and Justin Fields, and invaluable leadership and communication abilities. In contrast, Patrick is very versatile and more agile than Whitehair, and knows how to work with the rest of the line. However, he has had several injuries during his career and will have to be closely monitored by coaches. With only one spot left on the line up for grabs, the winner will likely be however can remain the healthiest and can best communicate with the other linemen.
