Post by riczaj01 on Sept 1, 2019 5:15:24 GMT -6
www.chicagotribune.com/sports/bears/ct-bears-53-roster-cuts-breakdown-20190901-m4rkmznxcba6jcti4zkq4awcqa-story.html
The Bears 53-man roster is set — for now. Here’s a detailed breakdown plus analysis from our team of reporters
By BRAD BIGGS, RICH CAMPBELL, COLLEEN KANE and DAN WIEDERER
CHICAGO TRIBUNE |
AUG 31, 2019 | 7:55 PM
The Bears 53-man roster is set — for now. Here’s a detailed breakdown plus analysis from our team of reporters
Bears outside linebacker Khalil Mack and quarterbacks Mitch Trubisky, Chase Daniel and Tyler Bray take in the action in the fourth quarter of a preseason game against the Titans on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019 at Soldier Field. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
The Bears set the first version of their 53-man roster by Saturday’s 3 p.m. deadline. It will evolve throughout the season, sometimes daily. And, as general manager Ryan Pace established in his first four seasons, it could change as early as Sunday’s waiver-claim period. For now, though, here’s the Bears roster and a quick positional breakdown of how it formed Saturday — plus reacaton from our team of reporters (*-rookie).
Quarterbacks (2): Mitch Trubisky, Chase Daniel.
Daniel was always a lock for the QB2 job, leaving Tyler Bray in a familiar spot as a practice-squad candidate.
Running backs (4): David Montgomery*, Tarik Cohen, Mike Davis, Kerrith Whyte*.
Whyte’s elite speed, and the fact the Bears used a seventh-round pick on him, gave him a leg up on former undrafted free agent Ryan Nall.
Wide receivers (6): Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel, Anthony Miller, Cordarrelle Patterson, Javon Wims, Riley Ridley*.
No surprises here. Veteran Marvin Hall was cut, but there was never any indication the Bears considered the speedster more than injury insurance.
Tight ends (4): Trey Burton, Adam Shaheen, Ben Braunecker, Bradley Sowell.
Sowell won the final spot, as expected, because of his experience as a blocker. The Bears will sort out practice-squad options among the undrafted rookies they auditioned in the preseason.
Offensive linemen (8): Charles Leno, Cody Whitehair, James Daniels, Kyle Long, Bobby Massie, Ted Larsen, Rashaad Coward, Cornelius Lucas.
The veteran Lucas made the team over undrafted rookie Alex Bars. Don’t be surprised if the Bears add a lineman from the pool of other teams’ cuts.
Defensive linemen (6): Akiem Hicks, Eddie Goldman, Bilal Nichols, Roy Robertson-Harris, Nick Williams, Abdullah Anderson.
Jonathan Bullard, the 2016 third-round pick, was the most surprising cut, and even that was mild, given how Nichols immediately passed him on the depth chart last season. Anderson, who spent last year on the practice squad after going undrafted, took Bullard’s spot.
Outside linebackers (4): Khalil Mack, Leonard Floyd, Aaron Lynch, Isaiah Irving.
Neither James Vaughters nor Kylie Fitts, a 2018 sixth-round pick, made the team. Special-teams value appears to have compelled the Bears to keep six inside linebackers instead.
Inside linebackers (6): Roquan Smith, Danny Trevathan, Nick Kwiatkoski, Joel Iyiegbuniwe, Kevin Pierre-Louis, Josh Woods.
Woods and Pierre-Louis impressed special teams coordinator Chris Tabor with their ability to run and hit. Pace had kept four inside linebackers on the first 53 in each of his first four seasons, so we’ll see how secure the bottom two are.
Cornerbacks (5): Kyle Fuller, Prince Amukamara, Buster Skrine, Duke Shelley*, Kevin Toliver.
Toliver won the last roster spot despite a quiet preseason. The Bears will monitor the waiver wire particularly closely here.
Safeties (5): Eddie Jackson, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Deon Bush, DeAndre Houston-Carson, Sherrick McManis.
The Bears value McManis and Houston-Carson for their special teams prowess. Plus, McManis can play anywhere in the second in a pinch.
Specialists (3): Eddy Pineiro, Pat O’Donnell, Patrick Scales.
Pineiro sticks for now, as expected, while Scales beat out John Wirtel for the long snapper spot.
Notes Undrafted rookie tight end Dax Raymond (concussion) and offensive lineman Blake Blackmar (ankle) were put on injured reserve.
What the reporters say ...
Brad Biggs
Sorry, there were no fireworks on roster-cutdown day like a year ago, when the Bears acquired Khalil Mack in a blockbuster trade with the Raiders. The Texans, operating without a general manager, pulled off the big deals, shipping holdout pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney to the Seahawks before sending a haul of draft picks to the Dolphins for left tackle Laremy Tunsil.
A quiet series of moves for the Bears reflects the state of the roster: They had few legitimate position battles in training camp and preseason. Interestingly, the team kept six inside linebackers, meaning Nick Kwiatkoski, Joel Iyiegbuniwe, Josh Woods and Kevin Pierre-Louis are viewed as core special-teams performers. That’s necessary because they are unlikely to get a lot from reserve running backs and wide receivers in that phase.
Cornelius Lucas edged out undrafted rookie Alex Bars for a roster spot, with experience likely playing a factor. Don’t be surprised if the front office considers available options at offensive tackle and cornerback — Kevin Toliver had a shaky preseason. The Bears cut 2016 third-round pick Jonathan Bullard. He never elevated his game, and Abdullah Anderson and Nick Williams played harder on the defensive line.
Rich Campbell
The continuity atop the Bears’ depth chart and the quality further down at some positions made Saturday the most uneventful, uninteresting cutdown day I can remember. Unquestionably, that’s good for a team that returns 20 of 23 starters (including nickel cornerback) from last year’s team that went 12-5.
Decisions such as Cornelius Lucas over Alex Bars as the eighth offensive lineman? Rookie seventh-rounder Kerrith Whyte over Ryan Nall as the fourth running back? Kevin Pierre-Louis as the sixth inside linebacker? Merely roster minutiae that serves as a distraction for one day.
Don’t lose sight of what matters. In absorbing the full 53-man roster, appreciate the talent at the top. It has been a long time since the Bears have started a season with this many proven, decorated players. Yes, this team’s chemistry is the extra something that legitimizes its Super Bowl aspirations. But the talent is why we can have the conversation in the first place.
With Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, Roquan Smith, Eddie Jackson, Kyle Fuller, etc., on defense, this should be a lot of fun to watch. And considering how the Bears have rebuilt their receivers and running backs over the last two offseasons, quarterback Mitch Trubisky couldn’t ask for anything more.
This team is healthy and equipped to win. Let’s see if they can.
Colleen Kane
There wasn’t a lot of mystery to the Bears’ roster cuts, and that’s a tribute to the group Ryan Pace put together and the general health of the starters and key reserves after coach Matt Nagy held them out for most of the preseason.
The kicker situation remains the most important thing to monitor. Until Nagy officially names Eddy Pineiro the starter, the Bears always could pick up another option via waivers, though Nagy indicated Thursday he doesn’t love the idea of starting over at the position in Week 1.
Beyond kicker, the roster battles were mostly for fringe spots, but here are a few I was watching.
On defense, cutting 2016 third-round pick Jonathan Bullard was among the more noteworthy moves but was not entirely shocking, given his lack of production over three seasons and the fact the defensive line is stacked in front of him. It also was interesting that the Bears cut both outside linebacker James Vaughters, who had a strong preseason, and 2018 sixth-round pick Kylie Fitts. But not many will be thinking about that once Khalil Mack and Leonard Floyd take the field.
On offense, it became clear throughout the preseason that wide receivers Javon Wims and Riley Ridley would be given spots on the team to round out a strong group of six, headed by Allen Robinson. The Bears also took speedy seventh-round pick Kerrith Whyte Jr. over Ryan Nall in a roster battle at running back. No offense to them, but we’re all ready to see what David Montgomery and Tarik Cohen are going to do.
Cornerback, tight end and swing tackle remain the positions with the most questionable depth.
Dan Wiederer
The countdown to the season opener Thursday against the Packers is intensifying. So rather than spend a ton of energy dissecting the players the Bears waived this weekend — a ho-hum list that included a couple of fizzled former draft picks — it’s wiser to focus on those who made the initial 53-man roster. Those are the players who will lock in Sunday when the Bears’ first true practice of Week 1 begins.
Matt Nagy’s “Handle with Care” approach to the preseason left us with an August in which the focus was on a kicker search and an array of other preseason minutiae. But September is here, and we can zero back in on this team’s starters and key reserves. Through that lens it’s easy to see this is the most complete roster the Bears have had in recent memory. Start with the established stars — Khalil Mack, Eddie Jackson and Akiem Hicks. Journey next to the others who went to the Pro Bowl last year — Kyle Fuller, Mitch Trubisky, Tarik Cohen, Charles Leno and Cody Whitehair. Take a glance at the reliable veterans who give this team added juice — Allen Robinson, Danny Trevathan, Prince Amukamara. Now start the roll call of young playmakers positioned for major breakthroughs in 2019 — Roquan Smith, Leonard Floyd and David Montgomery.
At full strength, this is as impressive a roster as you’ll find in the NFL, adding fuel to Chicago’s Super Bowl dreams. The Packers arrive soon. This is a united Bears team loaded with talent and blessed with the proper focus. This group is rested and ready to go.
The Bears 53-man roster is set — for now. Here’s a detailed breakdown plus analysis from our team of reporters
By BRAD BIGGS, RICH CAMPBELL, COLLEEN KANE and DAN WIEDERER
CHICAGO TRIBUNE |
AUG 31, 2019 | 7:55 PM
The Bears 53-man roster is set — for now. Here’s a detailed breakdown plus analysis from our team of reporters
Bears outside linebacker Khalil Mack and quarterbacks Mitch Trubisky, Chase Daniel and Tyler Bray take in the action in the fourth quarter of a preseason game against the Titans on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019 at Soldier Field. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
The Bears set the first version of their 53-man roster by Saturday’s 3 p.m. deadline. It will evolve throughout the season, sometimes daily. And, as general manager Ryan Pace established in his first four seasons, it could change as early as Sunday’s waiver-claim period. For now, though, here’s the Bears roster and a quick positional breakdown of how it formed Saturday — plus reacaton from our team of reporters (*-rookie).
Quarterbacks (2): Mitch Trubisky, Chase Daniel.
Daniel was always a lock for the QB2 job, leaving Tyler Bray in a familiar spot as a practice-squad candidate.
Running backs (4): David Montgomery*, Tarik Cohen, Mike Davis, Kerrith Whyte*.
Whyte’s elite speed, and the fact the Bears used a seventh-round pick on him, gave him a leg up on former undrafted free agent Ryan Nall.
Wide receivers (6): Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel, Anthony Miller, Cordarrelle Patterson, Javon Wims, Riley Ridley*.
No surprises here. Veteran Marvin Hall was cut, but there was never any indication the Bears considered the speedster more than injury insurance.
Tight ends (4): Trey Burton, Adam Shaheen, Ben Braunecker, Bradley Sowell.
Sowell won the final spot, as expected, because of his experience as a blocker. The Bears will sort out practice-squad options among the undrafted rookies they auditioned in the preseason.
Offensive linemen (8): Charles Leno, Cody Whitehair, James Daniels, Kyle Long, Bobby Massie, Ted Larsen, Rashaad Coward, Cornelius Lucas.
The veteran Lucas made the team over undrafted rookie Alex Bars. Don’t be surprised if the Bears add a lineman from the pool of other teams’ cuts.
Defensive linemen (6): Akiem Hicks, Eddie Goldman, Bilal Nichols, Roy Robertson-Harris, Nick Williams, Abdullah Anderson.
Jonathan Bullard, the 2016 third-round pick, was the most surprising cut, and even that was mild, given how Nichols immediately passed him on the depth chart last season. Anderson, who spent last year on the practice squad after going undrafted, took Bullard’s spot.
Outside linebackers (4): Khalil Mack, Leonard Floyd, Aaron Lynch, Isaiah Irving.
Neither James Vaughters nor Kylie Fitts, a 2018 sixth-round pick, made the team. Special-teams value appears to have compelled the Bears to keep six inside linebackers instead.
Inside linebackers (6): Roquan Smith, Danny Trevathan, Nick Kwiatkoski, Joel Iyiegbuniwe, Kevin Pierre-Louis, Josh Woods.
Woods and Pierre-Louis impressed special teams coordinator Chris Tabor with their ability to run and hit. Pace had kept four inside linebackers on the first 53 in each of his first four seasons, so we’ll see how secure the bottom two are.
Cornerbacks (5): Kyle Fuller, Prince Amukamara, Buster Skrine, Duke Shelley*, Kevin Toliver.
Toliver won the last roster spot despite a quiet preseason. The Bears will monitor the waiver wire particularly closely here.
Safeties (5): Eddie Jackson, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Deon Bush, DeAndre Houston-Carson, Sherrick McManis.
The Bears value McManis and Houston-Carson for their special teams prowess. Plus, McManis can play anywhere in the second in a pinch.
Specialists (3): Eddy Pineiro, Pat O’Donnell, Patrick Scales.
Pineiro sticks for now, as expected, while Scales beat out John Wirtel for the long snapper spot.
Notes Undrafted rookie tight end Dax Raymond (concussion) and offensive lineman Blake Blackmar (ankle) were put on injured reserve.
What the reporters say ...
Brad Biggs
Sorry, there were no fireworks on roster-cutdown day like a year ago, when the Bears acquired Khalil Mack in a blockbuster trade with the Raiders. The Texans, operating without a general manager, pulled off the big deals, shipping holdout pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney to the Seahawks before sending a haul of draft picks to the Dolphins for left tackle Laremy Tunsil.
A quiet series of moves for the Bears reflects the state of the roster: They had few legitimate position battles in training camp and preseason. Interestingly, the team kept six inside linebackers, meaning Nick Kwiatkoski, Joel Iyiegbuniwe, Josh Woods and Kevin Pierre-Louis are viewed as core special-teams performers. That’s necessary because they are unlikely to get a lot from reserve running backs and wide receivers in that phase.
Cornelius Lucas edged out undrafted rookie Alex Bars for a roster spot, with experience likely playing a factor. Don’t be surprised if the front office considers available options at offensive tackle and cornerback — Kevin Toliver had a shaky preseason. The Bears cut 2016 third-round pick Jonathan Bullard. He never elevated his game, and Abdullah Anderson and Nick Williams played harder on the defensive line.
Rich Campbell
The continuity atop the Bears’ depth chart and the quality further down at some positions made Saturday the most uneventful, uninteresting cutdown day I can remember. Unquestionably, that’s good for a team that returns 20 of 23 starters (including nickel cornerback) from last year’s team that went 12-5.
Decisions such as Cornelius Lucas over Alex Bars as the eighth offensive lineman? Rookie seventh-rounder Kerrith Whyte over Ryan Nall as the fourth running back? Kevin Pierre-Louis as the sixth inside linebacker? Merely roster minutiae that serves as a distraction for one day.
Don’t lose sight of what matters. In absorbing the full 53-man roster, appreciate the talent at the top. It has been a long time since the Bears have started a season with this many proven, decorated players. Yes, this team’s chemistry is the extra something that legitimizes its Super Bowl aspirations. But the talent is why we can have the conversation in the first place.
With Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, Roquan Smith, Eddie Jackson, Kyle Fuller, etc., on defense, this should be a lot of fun to watch. And considering how the Bears have rebuilt their receivers and running backs over the last two offseasons, quarterback Mitch Trubisky couldn’t ask for anything more.
This team is healthy and equipped to win. Let’s see if they can.
Colleen Kane
There wasn’t a lot of mystery to the Bears’ roster cuts, and that’s a tribute to the group Ryan Pace put together and the general health of the starters and key reserves after coach Matt Nagy held them out for most of the preseason.
The kicker situation remains the most important thing to monitor. Until Nagy officially names Eddy Pineiro the starter, the Bears always could pick up another option via waivers, though Nagy indicated Thursday he doesn’t love the idea of starting over at the position in Week 1.
Beyond kicker, the roster battles were mostly for fringe spots, but here are a few I was watching.
On defense, cutting 2016 third-round pick Jonathan Bullard was among the more noteworthy moves but was not entirely shocking, given his lack of production over three seasons and the fact the defensive line is stacked in front of him. It also was interesting that the Bears cut both outside linebacker James Vaughters, who had a strong preseason, and 2018 sixth-round pick Kylie Fitts. But not many will be thinking about that once Khalil Mack and Leonard Floyd take the field.
On offense, it became clear throughout the preseason that wide receivers Javon Wims and Riley Ridley would be given spots on the team to round out a strong group of six, headed by Allen Robinson. The Bears also took speedy seventh-round pick Kerrith Whyte Jr. over Ryan Nall in a roster battle at running back. No offense to them, but we’re all ready to see what David Montgomery and Tarik Cohen are going to do.
Cornerback, tight end and swing tackle remain the positions with the most questionable depth.
Dan Wiederer
The countdown to the season opener Thursday against the Packers is intensifying. So rather than spend a ton of energy dissecting the players the Bears waived this weekend — a ho-hum list that included a couple of fizzled former draft picks — it’s wiser to focus on those who made the initial 53-man roster. Those are the players who will lock in Sunday when the Bears’ first true practice of Week 1 begins.
Matt Nagy’s “Handle with Care” approach to the preseason left us with an August in which the focus was on a kicker search and an array of other preseason minutiae. But September is here, and we can zero back in on this team’s starters and key reserves. Through that lens it’s easy to see this is the most complete roster the Bears have had in recent memory. Start with the established stars — Khalil Mack, Eddie Jackson and Akiem Hicks. Journey next to the others who went to the Pro Bowl last year — Kyle Fuller, Mitch Trubisky, Tarik Cohen, Charles Leno and Cody Whitehair. Take a glance at the reliable veterans who give this team added juice — Allen Robinson, Danny Trevathan, Prince Amukamara. Now start the roll call of young playmakers positioned for major breakthroughs in 2019 — Roquan Smith, Leonard Floyd and David Montgomery.
At full strength, this is as impressive a roster as you’ll find in the NFL, adding fuel to Chicago’s Super Bowl dreams. The Packers arrive soon. This is a united Bears team loaded with talent and blessed with the proper focus. This group is rested and ready to go.
