5 Players Who Might Find Themselves on Chicago Bears' Practice Squad in 2015
The NFL does not have a minor league system, so the closest thing a team has to a developmental system is its practice squad.
Players who are not good enough to stick on the 53-man roster but are too good to just let go typically land on a team's practice squad. Those players who land on that reserve unit are then given the opportunity to develop under the guidance of the team's coaching staff.
The NFL allows each team to keep eight players on the practice squad throughout the season, and there are a handful of players currently on the Chicago Bears roster who would benefit from a stint on the team's practice squad.
Players assigned to the practice squad get an opportunity to work with the team on the field and in the classroom. Practice squad players are often called up to the main roster due to injuries, and Chicago had a couple of practice squad members make an impact last season.
Guard Ryan Groy spent part of last season on Chicago's practice squad before he was called up in early November. The young lineman made three starts in 2014 and is in line for a backup role this season.
Outside linebacker David Bass spent part of last season on Chicago's practice squad before registering three sacks in eight games. The young outside linebacker is now in the running for a prominent role on defense this offseason.
Just ahead, we take a look at five players who might find themselves on Chicago's practice squad in 2015.
CB Jacoby Glenn
1 of 5
The Bears opted not to use a draft pick on a cornerback this year, but they did add three undrafted free-agent cornerbacks to the roster following the conclusion of the draft.
Of the three cornerbacks signed as undrafted free agents—Bryce Callahan, Jacoby Glenn and Qumain Black—Callahan stands the best shot of making the 53-man roster out of training camp. With that said, Glenn looks like a prime candidate for the practice squad.
Glenn decided to enter this year's draft following a solid sophomore season, but the young cornerback likely went undrafted because of his lack of experience.
CBSSports.com's Dane Brugler initially listed Glenn as a projected fifth-round pick, and he raved about the young cornerback's potential.
"Good height and length for the position with room to get stronger. Aggressively drives on the ball in front of him and arrives with top-shelf competitiveness. Physical wrap tackler and does a nice job getting the ballcarrier on the ground. Very active in run support and not afraid of contact. Reads the eyes of the quarterback, tracking and coming off his man to make the play.
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He is listed at 6'0" and 179 pounds on the team's official website. While he possesses good height for the position, he would benefit from gaining more weight. He looks a bit too thin and lacks the ideal upper-body strength to be physical at the line of scrimmage. He plays well in zone coverage, but the Bears will use a lot of man coverage under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
Despite his weaknesses, Glenn possesses good ball skills and makes good breaks on the football. He recorded nine interceptions and 26 pass deflections in 25 career games at Central Florida, and he has a knack for making big plays.
Glenn will compete with Callahan, as well as veterans Tracy Porter and Alan Ball, for the open nickelback position this offseason, but his lack of strength and bulk will keep him from earning the job.
It may be difficult to stash him on the practice squad this season because many other teams are likely intrigued by his upside, but if the Bears can find a spot for him on the practice squad, he has a chance to develop into a useful part of the defense in the years to come.
WR Cameron Meredith
2 of 5
A former quarterback at Illinois State, Cameron Meredith made the move to wide receiver in 2013. According to GoRedBirds.com, Meredith hauled in 66 passes for 1,061 yards with nine touchdowns last season.
He grew up just outside Chicago, and the young receiver is relishing the opportunity to play for his hometown team.
“Being from Chicago and being able to become a Bear is surreal, but it’s an opportunity I have to take advantage of,” he said, according to Larry Mayer of ChicagoBears.com.
He needs to work on his route running, but he is a quick, fluid athlete who is not afraid to go up and get the football. He struggles when pressed at the line of scrimmage and needs to get stronger, but he has a lot of potential.
The odds of him making the 53-man roster are fairly slim because of his limited experience at the position, but he could grow and develop on the practice squad. Even though he faces an uphill battle, he has had the right mentality this offseason.
“It’s a huge opportunity,” he said back in May, according to Mayer. “I want to make the most of it. Not everybody’s getting this opportunity to go to a professional team and make a statement the first couple days.”
The Bears have been impressed enough with him on the field during minicamps and OTAs to keep him on the roster for training camp, but he will face tough competition from guys like Rashad Lawrence, John Chiles and Levi Norwood for a spot on the practice squad.
There are other young receivers on the roster who are more polished route-runners, but Meredith is an intelligent receiver who understands coverages because of his previous experience playing quarterback. Unless he has a stellar training camp, he looks to be an ideal candidate for Chicago's practice squad in 2015.
SS Anthony Jefferson
3 of 5
CBSSports.com's Bo Marchionte listed UCLA's Anthony Jefferson as a possible fifth- or sixth-round pick in this year's draft, but the young strong safety went undrafted. The Bears quickly signed him as a priority free agent following the conclusion of the draft.
Jefferson finished his collegiate career with 166 total tackles, four tackles for loss and three interceptions. He played both cornerback and safety for the Bruins, but he was at his best when asked to play up in the box as a strong safety.
He is a physical tackler who does a nice job of wrapping up ball-carriers, but he plays a bit stiff and lacks the overall athleticism to be a consistent threat against the pass. He does possess the size (6'1", 198 lbs) to match up with tight ends in the passing game, but he needs to get stronger.
The transition from college football to the NFL is usually difficult for many players, but Jefferson says he feels comfortable in Chicago's defense.
"Football is football," he said, according to Arthur Arkush of ChicagoFootball.com. "We play some of the same coverages that we’re learning now. There’s just different ways to explain the job and your assignments. Once you learn the terminology of the defense, then everything will start coming more naturally."
He could potentially stick on the roster if he proves he can make an impact on special teams, but he appears to be a good fit for the practice squad. A year on the practice squad could help him become a more technically sound defender in pass coverage, and he could push for the backup strong safety job in 2016.
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G Conor Boffeli
4 of 5
Undrafted out of Iowa in 2014, guard Conor Boffeli signed with the Minnesota Vikings that May as an undrafted free agent. He was later released by the Vikings that summer and signed with the Houston Texans.
He spent all of training camp with the Texans before he was released near the end of August. The Bears signed him in early October, and the young lineman spent the remainder of the season on the team's practice squad.
Following the conclusion of the regular season, the Bears signed Boffeli to a reserve/futures contract.
He started three games as a junior for the Hawkeyes in 2012 before starting all 13 games at left guard in 2013. He is an athletic guard who uses his feet well and is technically sound, but he struggles at the point of attack.
"Raw, light-framed zone blocker ideally suited for a role as a swing interior backup in a slide-movement protection scheme," wrote NFL.com's Nolan Nawrocki in Boffeli's scouting report. "Has the smarts and versatility to battle for a roster spot."
Boffeli is a good fit in offensive coordinator Adam Gase's scheme because of his athleticism and ability to slide from side to side in pass protection, but his overall strength is a concern.
The Bears have a handful of linemen who can play the guard position, and Boffeli is going to have a difficult time beating out guys like Vladimir Ducasse, Ryan Groy and Michael Ola for a spot on the 53-man roster. Ducasse, Groy and Ola all have NFL starting experience, while Ola gives the team a versatile lineman who can play all along the offensive line.
Ducasse and Groy are strong, powerful guards who excel in the running game, but they both lack athleticism in the passing game.
Boffeli is still raw and needs to work on getting stronger, but his potential is what makes him an ideal candidate for the practice squad this season.
DT Terry Williams
5 of 5
Brought in on a tryout basis following the draft, East Carolina defensive tackle Terry Williams earned a contract with his performance in Chicago's rookie minicamp.
“My mindset was just to give it my all,” he said at the time, according to Mayer. “I just wanted to leave here with no regrets. In my mind, I know I’m a good football player. I really feel like I can play in this league. I just took the tryout route.”
He registered 125 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss and three sacks in four seasons with the Pirates. He is explosive out of his stance, uses his hands well and is strong at the point of attack. Despite all the positives, there are some concerns about his conditioning and his checkered past.
Bleacher Report's Matt Miller outlined some of Williams' negatives this offseason, writing:
"Williams was suspended in 2013 for violation of team policy. He was also suspended in 2012 following a drug-related arrest. On the field, Williams’ lack of height will be an issue for many teams, and his ability to keep his weight in check will be, too. He looked much more effective when he played closer to 320 pounds than his ballooned weight of 353 pounds in 2014. Off the field, Williams is a big risk due to arrests, suspensions and his weight. On the field, he’s pretty impressive.
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The Bears drafted Eddie Goldman in the second round of this year's draft to play nose tackle, and they also have guys like Jeremiah Ratliff, Will Sutton and Ego Ferguson on the roster who can play nose tackle, so the Bears may take their time with Williams. He needs to keep his weight in check and will have to work on his conditioning to be viewed as an every-down defensive tackle.
By stashing him on the practice squad, the Bears will be able to see what they have in guys like Sutton and Ferguson on the field in 2015 while being able to develop the young defensive tackle for the future.
Statistical information courtesy of NFL.com and Sports-Reference.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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