Post by JABF on Feb 19, 2017 8:17:22 GMT -6
Interesting article. With the signing of Kush (thread LINK), and Grasu coming back, the OL will have quality depth to go along with the quality starters on the interior of the OL. I find it interesting in this article where it quotes Pace and notes that Long or Whitehair could be moved to tackle.
LINK
Chicago Bears interior offensive line could be league best in 2017
Chicago Bears Pro Bowlers Kyle Long and Josh Sitton, along with youngster Cody Whitehair, could form the best interior offensive line in the NFL next season, but can they stay healthy?
There were many to blame for the disappointing 2016 campaign of the Chicago Bears but the season wasn’t just filled with negatives.
There were actually some bright spots the Bears can use as momentum going into next season. The biggest is the youth of the team, including GM Ryan Pace’s 2016 draft class, which was strong.
One of those players, OL Cody Whitehair, was given an opportunity to start his rookie year, of which he took full advantage. The second-round pick started all 16 games for the Bears, earning praise from teammates and coaches alike. As such, Whitehair is considered a building block for the future.
“You had some young guys who were taking advantage of opportunities,” said QB Brian Hoyer. “A guy like Cody Whitehair did a great job. Obviously Jordan Howard. I mean, imagine if he had played a little bit more in those first games, where he would be. So there are a lot of young guys here to build upon, and then you have some veteran guys here under contract who are really good players. So I think it's a really good situation.”
The team's 2015 third-round OL Hroniss Grasu was slated to start at center in 2016 but a torn ACL suffered in August derailed that notion.
It may have been a blessing in disguise for Whitehair.
“I saw a guy when he first showed up, I was like … he can pretty much start a tractor and lift hay bales into a tractor and that’s it,” said Kyle Long. “And then now, he’s flourished into one of the best centers in the league, and he’s a rookie. He’s wise beyond his years. He’s very, very, very calm and collected.”
The 24-year-old is a now key part of Chicago's interior offensive line, which could be one of the best in the NFL next season.
Whitehair was named a Top 10 rookie by Pro Football Focus and he graded out at 87.2, making him the sixth-best center in 2016.
That’s impressive for a player in his first season at a new position.
Can they stay healthy?
After a one-year project with Kyle Long at right tackle, the Bears decided to move the three-time Pro Bowl player back to guard for 2016.
The move put Long back at his natural position and provided more stability up front.
Long made eight starts in 2016 but had his season derailed by an ankle injury. He will undergo ankle and shoulder surgery in the 2017 offseason.
The Bears were solid inside heading into the regular season and then had the final piece handed to them in Week 1.
Chicago signed former Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Josh Sitton to a 3-year-deal just days after he was released by his former team.
Sitton was the best pass blocking guard in the league prior to his arrival and he continued to be excellent in that category with the Bears. The 30-year-old had a pass-blocking grade of 91.2, per PFF, which was third best among guards in 2016.
He allowed just six quarterback pressures in 13 games, continuing his strong play from his days with the Packers.
Chicago’s offensive line as a whole was graded 15th overall by PFF for the 2016 season, giving us a glimpse of what the unit can accomplish when healthy.
For Chicago’s offensive line to be a team strength again next season, the health of both of guards will be key.
Changes on outside?
While they are strong on the inside, the outside could use some work. Bobby Massie was brought in as a free agent but struggled at times, particularly early in the year. He’s unlikely to be replaced due to a large contract. Charles Leno Jr. wasn’t awful last season but did struggle at times, especially down the stretch.
If Pace looks to upgrade the O-line this off-season, Leno Jr. could be the odd man out.
But with what is regarded as a weak draft for tackles, the Bears may look inside their own organization to upgrade the position.
Pace hinted that he’d like Grasu to remain at center, which could open the door for Long or Whitehair to move to tackle, assuming Grasu shows he's starter worthy during training camp.
“That would be a good problem for us to have,” Pace said. “If there’s one thing I learned this season it’s that you can’t have enough depth, especially on your offensive line. I view Hroniss more of a center-only. If he comes back, that’d be the position he’s competing for. If Hroniss is playing like a solid NFL starting center and gets to that level, which I think he can, that’s a good problem.
"We have flexibility with other guys. Cody Whitehair is a flexible guy and Kyle is too. We’ll see how it shakes out, but if [Grasu] is at a starter level, that’ll sort out to get the five best on the field.”
Winning in the NFL starts in the trenches and the Bears have a built one of the best interior foundations in the league.
Chicago Bears interior offensive line could be league best in 2017
Chicago Bears Pro Bowlers Kyle Long and Josh Sitton, along with youngster Cody Whitehair, could form the best interior offensive line in the NFL next season, but can they stay healthy?
There were many to blame for the disappointing 2016 campaign of the Chicago Bears but the season wasn’t just filled with negatives.
There were actually some bright spots the Bears can use as momentum going into next season. The biggest is the youth of the team, including GM Ryan Pace’s 2016 draft class, which was strong.
One of those players, OL Cody Whitehair, was given an opportunity to start his rookie year, of which he took full advantage. The second-round pick started all 16 games for the Bears, earning praise from teammates and coaches alike. As such, Whitehair is considered a building block for the future.
“You had some young guys who were taking advantage of opportunities,” said QB Brian Hoyer. “A guy like Cody Whitehair did a great job. Obviously Jordan Howard. I mean, imagine if he had played a little bit more in those first games, where he would be. So there are a lot of young guys here to build upon, and then you have some veteran guys here under contract who are really good players. So I think it's a really good situation.”
The team's 2015 third-round OL Hroniss Grasu was slated to start at center in 2016 but a torn ACL suffered in August derailed that notion.
It may have been a blessing in disguise for Whitehair.
“I saw a guy when he first showed up, I was like … he can pretty much start a tractor and lift hay bales into a tractor and that’s it,” said Kyle Long. “And then now, he’s flourished into one of the best centers in the league, and he’s a rookie. He’s wise beyond his years. He’s very, very, very calm and collected.”
The 24-year-old is a now key part of Chicago's interior offensive line, which could be one of the best in the NFL next season.
Whitehair was named a Top 10 rookie by Pro Football Focus and he graded out at 87.2, making him the sixth-best center in 2016.
That’s impressive for a player in his first season at a new position.
Can they stay healthy?
After a one-year project with Kyle Long at right tackle, the Bears decided to move the three-time Pro Bowl player back to guard for 2016.
The move put Long back at his natural position and provided more stability up front.
Long made eight starts in 2016 but had his season derailed by an ankle injury. He will undergo ankle and shoulder surgery in the 2017 offseason.
The Bears were solid inside heading into the regular season and then had the final piece handed to them in Week 1.
Chicago signed former Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Josh Sitton to a 3-year-deal just days after he was released by his former team.
Sitton was the best pass blocking guard in the league prior to his arrival and he continued to be excellent in that category with the Bears. The 30-year-old had a pass-blocking grade of 91.2, per PFF, which was third best among guards in 2016.
He allowed just six quarterback pressures in 13 games, continuing his strong play from his days with the Packers.
Chicago’s offensive line as a whole was graded 15th overall by PFF for the 2016 season, giving us a glimpse of what the unit can accomplish when healthy.
For Chicago’s offensive line to be a team strength again next season, the health of both of guards will be key.
Changes on outside?
While they are strong on the inside, the outside could use some work. Bobby Massie was brought in as a free agent but struggled at times, particularly early in the year. He’s unlikely to be replaced due to a large contract. Charles Leno Jr. wasn’t awful last season but did struggle at times, especially down the stretch.
If Pace looks to upgrade the O-line this off-season, Leno Jr. could be the odd man out.
But with what is regarded as a weak draft for tackles, the Bears may look inside their own organization to upgrade the position.
Pace hinted that he’d like Grasu to remain at center, which could open the door for Long or Whitehair to move to tackle, assuming Grasu shows he's starter worthy during training camp.
“That would be a good problem for us to have,” Pace said. “If there’s one thing I learned this season it’s that you can’t have enough depth, especially on your offensive line. I view Hroniss more of a center-only. If he comes back, that’d be the position he’s competing for. If Hroniss is playing like a solid NFL starting center and gets to that level, which I think he can, that’s a good problem.
"We have flexibility with other guys. Cody Whitehair is a flexible guy and Kyle is too. We’ll see how it shakes out, but if [Grasu] is at a starter level, that’ll sort out to get the five best on the field.”
Winning in the NFL starts in the trenches and the Bears have a built one of the best interior foundations in the league.