The 5 Biggest Issues Facing Chicago Bears with OTAs Wrapped
On Thursday afternoon, the Chicago Bears finished up their final organized team activities (OTAs) session of the offseason. The team held a total of three, three-day practice sessions that allowed the Bears to install their new offense and defense, and they also gave the coaching staff a chance to evaluate the players on the roster.
The Bears will hold a mandatory minicamp early next week before the team gets some time off prior to the start of training camp late next month.
New general manager Ryan Pace has done a nice job this offseason addressing some of the team's biggest needs via free agency and the draft, but the team still has some issues that need to be addressed before training camp begins.
Just ahead, we take a look at the five biggest issues facing the Chicago Bears with OTAs officially wrapped.
When Will Martellus Bennett Return?
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Tight end Martellus Bennett went to his first Pro Bowl following the 2014 season, but the seven-year veteran has not participated in any of Chicago's offseason programs.
Bennett initially missed the team's voluntary minicamp earlier this offseason, and he has not been present for any of Chicago's OTAs.
When head coach John Fox was asked earlier this offseason if Bennett is viewed as a long-term option for the team at the tight end position, Fox was vague with his response.
"That's kind of a tough question to answer on anybody," Fox said at the time, according to Chicago Bears Radio Network sideline host Zach Zaidman. "I don't know yet."
Bennett has not spoken much this offseason, but he did comment about his situation in late April.
"I'm really not paying attention to that kind of stuff. I'm just trying to prepare and have a great season with the Chicago Bears," Bennett told NFL Media's Akbar Gbajabiamila, via NFL.com's Kevin Patra. "If something should happen to change that, well then I'll have a great season somewhere else."
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Bears were fielding offers for Bennett during the draft, but nothing materialized.
Bennett registered a career high in catches (90), receiving yards (916) and touchdowns (six) last season, but the Bears appear to be unwilling to offer him a new deal. According to Spotrac, Bennett is set to make $4.9 million in base salary this season.
The Bears will be holding a mandatory minicamp June 16-18, and Fox is not sure if Bennett will be in attendance.
“Don’t know that,” Fox said when asked about Bennett's return, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com. “Again, it’s different implications on mandatory minicamp. But we’ll wait and see.”
If Bennett does not attend the mandatory minicamp, he could be fined by the team. Training camp begins July 30, and if the team and Bennett cannot come to an agreement, the Bears will have to move on without their Pro Bowl tight end.
Cornerback Depth
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The two starting cornerback spots appear to be set in stone for the Bears with Kyle Fuller and Tim Jennings sitting atop the depth chart, but the position lacks much depth behind them.
Earlier this offseason, the team re-signed Al Louis-Jean, Demontre Hurst and Sherrick McManis and signed veteran Alan Ball in free agency. The team did not select a cornerback in this year's draft, but the Bears did add Bryce Callahan, Qumain Black and Jacoby Glenn as undrafted free agents.
After the conclusion of its first two OTA sessions, the team brought in veteran Tracy Porter on a one-year deal earlier this week, according to Kevin Fishbain of ChicagoFootball.com:
"Bears add depth at corner with Tracy Porter. 5-11, 188-pounder played for John Fox in 2012. 51 career passes defensed, 10 INTs.
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) June 8, 2015"
“He’s been with a couple teams since I last had him, but I like what I’ve seen so far,” Fox said, according to Larry Mayer of ChicagoBears.com. “We haven’t put him in a bunch because he’s still learning the system. But he’ll pick it up fast. We’re hoping he helps us.”
Porter was a second-round pick of New Orleans back in 2008 and spent four seasons with the Saints before spending time with the Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders and Washington Redskins. He has struggled with injuries the last few seasons, but he can be a reliable cornerback when healthy.
The addition of Porter could be viewed simply as a depth move, but it could be a sign the Bears are not happy with the progress some of their young cornerbacks are making this offseason.
Fuller and Jennings are both guaranteed a spot on the roster this season, but the final three or four spots at the position appear to be up in the air as the team gets closer to the start of training camp.
The Health of Lamarr Houston and Willie Young
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Not many things went right for Chicago's defense last season, but prior to his season-ending Achilles injury in Week 16, Willie Young was having a career year.
Young signed a three-year deal last offseason with the Bears after spending his first four seasons in the league with the Detroit Lions.
In 15 games with the Bears last season, Young registered 39 tackles, 10 sacks, two pass deflections and forced one fumble. According to Pro Football Focus, he also finished with five quarterback hits and 22 quarterback hurries.
Just like Young, Lamarr Houston also suffered a season-ending injury last season. During the team's Week 8 blowout loss to the New England Patriots, Houston tore his ACL celebrating his sack of Patriots backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
Houston finished the season with just eight tackles, one sack and one pass deflection in eight games. According to Pro Football Focus, he registered 10 quarterback hits and 15 quarterback hurries in 405 snaps.
Both are converting from 4-3 defensive ends to 3-4 outside linebackers in defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's scheme this offseason, but both have been unable to fully participate in OTAs due to their injuries, according to Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times:
"#Bears coach John Fox said OLBs Lamarr Houston and Willie Young continue to go through their rehabs. Called them week-to-week.
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) June 3, 2015"
The Bears have plenty of depth at the outside linebacker position with Pernell McPhee, Jared Allen, Sam Acho and David Bass on the roster, but the longer Young and Houston are forced to stand on the sideline because of their injuries, the harder it is going to be for them to adapt to their new positions.
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Proven Depth at Defensive End
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The Bears signed veteran defensive lineman Ray McDonald this offseason to a one-year deal, but he was arrested late last month for domestic violence and child endangerment, and the Bears released him immediately following his arrest.
McDonald was expected to be an anchor along Chicago's defensive line at the 5-technique defensive end position, but with him no longer part of the team, the Bears lack much experience along the defensive line.
Jarvis Jenkins was signed by the Bears in free agency this offseason after spending the last four years with the Washington Redskins, but the young 5-technique defensive end has registered just 75 tackles and two sacks in 44 career games. He was a second-round pick back in 2011, but he has failed to live up to his potential in the NFL.
In addition to having Jenkins on the roster at defensive end, the Bears have also moved 2014 second- and third-round picks Ego Ferguson and Will Sutton to defensive end after both played defensive tackle last season.
Ferguson has the ability to play both inside at nose tackle and outside at defensive end, but Sutton lacks the ideal size to be an effective defensive end in a 3-4 defense. Despite not being a great fit, Sutton knows it is all about having the right attitude.
"You've just got to adjust," Sutton said, according to Kyle Nabors of ChicagoFootball.com. "Whatever they bring in, you've got to be coachable. You better come in with an open mind and be ready to work."
Veteran defensive lineman Jeremiah Ratliff will likely begin the season as one of the team's starters at defensive end with rookie Eddie Goldman starting at the nose tackle position, meaning the other starting job is going to come down to Jenkins, Ferguson and Sutton.
All three have potential and the ability to succeed in Fangio's 3-4 defense, but if one or more falters in training camp, the Bears will head into the 2015 season with a lot of question marks at the position.
Where Will Kyle Long Play?
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Even though Kyle Long has gone to two straight Pro Bowls as a right guard, some believe he is better suited to play outside at one of the two tackle positions. I explored that topic earlier this offseason, and the young lineman got his first chance to play right tackle during OTAs earlier this week, according to Jahns:
"Kyle Long practiced at right tackle today for the #Bears. Jordan Mills also wasn’t in attendance today.
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) June 10, 2015"
Starting right tackle Jordan Mills missed practice on Wednesday, and Fox said he wanted to give Long a look on the outside.
"We had a shortage of tackles right now," Fox said Wednesday, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. "We have a couple of guys in the training room. So we took a look at him there.”
Even though Long got reps at right tackle, Fox still views the former Pro Bowler as a guard.
“Right now he’s a starting guard, and we’re out here trying to get better as a team, learn a new system," Fox said, according to Biggs.
If the Bears want to permanently move Long to tackle, they will need him to continue to get reps at the position in the team's mandatory minicamp and in training camp, but Long is trying not to look too far into the future.
“I’m so near-sighted, I can’t really think past today or this week,” he said, according to Biggs. “I’ve always thought I could do it but who knows? We have guys who play right tackle and we’re going to figure out from that standpoint where we’re going to go but right now they needed someone in practice so I jumped at the opportunity.”
The biggest question this offseason will center around whether moving Long to tackle will benefit the team moving forward. He has proven over the course of the last two years he is one of the league's best guards, but would he make a bigger impact on the outside at tackle?
If the Bears are not comfortable with Mills holding down the right tackle spot moving forward, Long appears to be the best fit. If the team opts to keep Long inside at guard and hold a competition at right tackle, Mills will spend training camp and the preseason competing with unproven tackles like Michael Ola, Charles Leno and Tayo Fabuluje for the starting right tackle job.
Statistical information courtesy of NFL.com unless otherwise noted.
Matt Eurich is a Chicago Bears Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and a member of the Pro Football Writers of America.
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