2018 Positional Battles at Bourbonnais

LOL, “if he can reps early”?  He’s been on the team 3 years now and has started lots of games!  

IDK where anyone could get the idea that Bellamy ‘hasn’t had enough reps’.  He is what he is—a good ST gunner whose shitty hands make him no more than a deep backup as a WR.

Surprisingly little is written about this even though it is arguably our weakest depth position. Parker Hurley of Fansided laid out the positional depth battle in the following way: 

Bradley Sowell vs Earl Watford vs Dejon Allen vs Matt McCants

...the depth behind Charles Leno and Bobby Massie should matter.

The Bears are likely to keep eight offensive linemen. 5 starters, Eric Kush, and two players from the list above, Hroniss Grasu and Jordan Morgan. How should the four above rank, and should any make it over Grasu or Morgan

Bradley Sowell has the most experience on the Chicago Bears roster of this group of tackles. Last season, the team signed him late into summer. He started two games last season, although they came at guard. Still, the team brought back Bradley Sowell on a two-year deal. With his experience at multiple positions and his contract status, he will likely come in as the top dog and a leader to make the team over Morgan and Grasu as well.

However, Earl Watford is going to make a case. Watford started nine games last season and 20 over the past two at 3 different spots, including right tackle. If can show more serviceable as a right tackle than Sowell, he should get the spot, despite the fact that Sowell is on the books for $300K next season.

McCants seems unlikely to make the roster but will push the other two. He has been in the NFL since 2012 but has only started in three games.

Lastly is Dejon Allen, the UDFA from Hawaii. Allen has upside and experience at three positions. He is one of the highlights of this UDFA class. By the looks of it, it seems as though the team will head in the direction of keeping one of Sowell or Watford. That will be their veteran swing tackle. The eighth lineman will be one of Allen or Mogan. They can try to push the other to the practice squad, and let Grasu, who lacks versatility go.

The early indication is that Sowell has the edge and can keep it with a standard summer. Morgan, with fifth-round draft status, would likely have the edge over Allen for now. Allen should be found to slide to the practice squad.

I would love to see Allen get a year on the practice squad and develop into something solid for 2019 and beyond.  Sowell makes sense as the vet for depth.  Morgan makes sense, as you say, since we invested a 5th round pick in him this year.  I am excited about watching James Daniels develop too.  I'm really hoping Hiestand builds us something very special for the future, out of this young talent.

Any serious injuries in training camp obviously could play a factor.  Grasu is still only 26 years old.  I wonder if Hiestand can do anything substantial to help him develop.  I know he's been a big disappointment so far.   

Don’t forget Rashad Coward.