My #1 concern for the 2019 Bears is the TE group. Trubisky will have a significantly better season if the TE play is solid (receiving & blocking). They don't have to put up big numbers receiving, but at least pose a threat that defenses have to account for. Yeah, and in the red zone it will be a huge help if Trubs can have solid TE play too. Over many years I've watched what solid TE play has provided Tom Brady. How many games have you seen won by NE by the TE's (not just Gronk) getting it done? I watch those plays in NE games and just think of how much that elevates Brady's game... and not just the catches because they also provide such an accountability burden for defenses. Would love to see Trubisky have that kind of support in games.
I agree that TE is one of the few position groups where the Bears are a little thin. Burton is decent but not much of a blocker. Shaheen is one more disappointing year ('looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane') from having the BUST label hung on him. Braunecker is ok as a backup but is mostly there for STs. Be interesting to see if Dax Raymond can cut it or he needs a year on the PS first.
I'm a little puzzled on the move of Sowell from OT to TE. I get that he's effective as an in-line blocker but why have him lose weight to shoe-horn him in as a TE? The only backup OT we have now is Coward, who hasn't played a single regular season snap at the position ever. Seems to me Sowell should have stuck as a backup OT who can sometimes come in as a 6th OL/quasi-TE for short yardage. Does he really need to slim down to catch passes? I just hope Leno and Massie stay healthy cuz depth behind them is weak and unproven.
My #1 concern for the 2019 Bears is the TE group. Trubisky will have a significantly better season if the TE play is solid (receiving & blocking). They don't have to put up big numbers receiving, but at least pose a threat that defenses have to account for. Yeah, and in the red zone it will be a huge help if Trubs can have solid TE play too. Over many years I've watched what solid TE play has provided Tom Brady. How many games have you seen won by NE by the TE's (not just Gronk) getting it done? I watch those plays in NE games and just think of how much that elevates Brady's game... and not just the catches because they also provide such an accountability burden for defenses. Would love to see Trubisky have that kind of support in games.
I agree that TE is one of the few position groups where the Bears are a little thin. Burton is decent but not much of a blocker. Shaheen is one more disappointing year ('looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane') from having the BUST label hung on him. Braunecker is ok as a backup but is mostly there for STs. Be interesting to see if Dax Raymond can cut it or he needs a year on the PS first.
I'm a little puzzled on the move of Sowell from OT to TE. I get that he's effective as an in-line blocker but why have him lose weight to shoe-horn him in as a TE? The only backup OT we have now is Coward, who hasn't played a single regular season snap at the position ever. Seems to me Sowell should have stuck as a backup OT who can sometimes come in as a 6th OL/quasi-TE for short yardage. Does he really need to slim down to catch passes? I just hope Leno and Massie stay healthy cuz depth behind them is weak and unproven.
Maybe they will be watching to pick up a training camp cut at OT. They have two other guys on the roster at OT now, the journeyman Cornelius Lucas and rookie Joe Lowery, an undrafted kid from Ohio U. Maybe I'm missing someone at tackle but I don't think so. It is a head scratcher for sure.
I agree that TE is one of the few position groups where the Bears are a little thin. Burton is decent but not much of a blocker. Shaheen is one more disappointing year ('looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane') from having the BUST label hung on him. Braunecker is ok as a backup but is mostly there for STs. Be interesting to see if Dax Raymond can cut it or he needs a year on the PS first.
I'm a little puzzled on the move of Sowell from OT to TE. I get that he's effective as an in-line blocker but why have him lose weight to shoe-horn him in as a TE? The only backup OT we have now is Coward, who hasn't played a single regular season snap at the position ever. Seems to me Sowell should have stuck as a backup OT who can sometimes come in as a 6th OL/quasi-TE for short yardage. Does he really need to slim down to catch passes? I just hope Leno and Massie stay healthy cuz depth behind them is weak and unproven.
Maybe they will be watching to pick up a training camp cut at OT. They have two other guys on the roster at OT now, the journeyman Cornelius Lucas and rookie Joe Lowery, an undrafted kid from Ohio U. Maybe I'm missing someone at tackle but I don't think so. It is a head scratcher for sure.
We will see, JABF, but as you know OTs are hard to come by in the NFL. Teams don't cut decent ones unless they're injured or way past their prime. Every team needs 3-4 of them on the roster and the demand exceeds the supply.
I thought Sowell was/is a solid backup OT so I don't see the gain in making him lose weight and convert into a purely blocking TE. Maybe I'm wrong and Coward will fill in ably but he has zero regular season game experience so it's hard to be convinced of that right now.
Post by dachuckster on Jul 27, 2019 16:25:23 GMT -6
It could be that Nagy and the offensive staff see a future for Sowell as a TE. Especially if he can still take on the lighter, faster Edge rushers at his new weight and get out in a pattern afterwards.
Not saying he will be a stud TE, just thinking of why they would do it.
Maybe they will be watching to pick up a training camp cut at OT. They have two other guys on the roster at OT now, the journeyman Cornelius Lucas and rookie Joe Lowery, an undrafted kid from Ohio U. Maybe I'm missing someone at tackle but I don't think so. It is a head scratcher for sure.
We will see, JABF, but as you know OTs are hard to come by in the NFL. Teams don't cut decent ones unless they're injured or way past their prime. Every team needs 3-4 of them on the roster and the demand exceeds the supply.
I thought Sowell was/is a solid backup OT so I don't see the gain in making him lose weight and convert into a purely blocking TE. Maybe I'm wrong and Coward will fill in ably but he has zero regular season game experience so it's hard to be convinced of that right now.
I wonder if he is moved to TE as a cover-up, Smoke screen. They will use him to receive but it is all about mis matches. Teams will not know what to expect from him. Is he a blocker? Receiver? A lineman. Miss direction.
We will see, JABF, but as you know OTs are hard to come by in the NFL. Teams don't cut decent ones unless they're injured or way past their prime. Every team needs 3-4 of them on the roster and the demand exceeds the supply.
I thought Sowell was/is a solid backup OT so I don't see the gain in making him lose weight and convert into a purely blocking TE. Maybe I'm wrong and Coward will fill in ably but he has zero regular season game experience so it's hard to be convinced of that right now.
I wonder if he is moved to TE as a cover-up, Smoke screen. They will use him to receive but it is all about mis matches. Teams will not know what to expect from him. Is he a blocker? Receiver? A lineman. Miss direction.
According to the reports today, Sowell has lost a ton of weight and actually looks like a TE now. It's not a smoke screen.
I wonder if he is moved to TE as a cover-up, Smoke screen. They will use him to receive but it is all about mis matches. Teams will not know what to expect from him. Is he a blocker? Receiver? A lineman. Miss direction.
According to the reports today, Sowell has lost a ton of weight and actually looks like a TE now. It's not a smoke screen.
Yeah, I saw the same thing and the pics from camp seem to back that up. They must really love Coward as a swing OT and I sure hope that confidence is justified.
According to the reports today, Sowell has lost a ton of weight and actually looks like a TE now. It's not a smoke screen.
Yeah, I saw the same thing and the pics from camp seem to back that up. They must really love Coward as a swing OT and I sure hope that confidence is justified.
As long as Hiestand is part of the decisions on this, I am good with it. IMO he is one of the best OL position coaches in football right now.
Yeah, I saw the same thing and the pics from camp seem to back that up. They must really love Coward as a swing OT and I sure hope that confidence is justified.
As long as Hiestand is part of the decisions on this, I am good with it. IMO he is one of the best OL position coaches in football right now.
He knows a helluva lot more about OL than I do. If he loves Coward as an OT, that says a lot.