Chicago Bears: 5 Most Crucial Training Camp Position Battles to Watch
The Chicago Bears will hold their first official training camp practice of 2015 on July 30, and the team will remain in Bourbonnais, Illinois, until camp concludes on August 16.
Many of Chicago's starting jobs are already secured, but there are still some positions up for grabs this offseason.
Offensively, the Bears are returning many of the same players from last season, but the battles at right tackle and running back will be something to keep an eye on once training camp begins.
The defensive side of the football has more question marks than the offensive side, and the battles at inside linebacker, cornerback and defensive end will be some of the most entertaining to watch.
Just ahead, we take a look at each of the team's most crucial training camp battles and rank them from No. 5 to No. 1 based on the position group's importance and the level of competition at each position.
5. Right Tackle
1 of 5
Currently, the right tackle position in Chicago is a big question mark.
The Bears used Pro Bowl guard Kyle Long at right tackle earlier this offseason, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, but head coach John Fox said Long is still 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 in June, according to Biggs. "We had a shortage of tackles right now. We have a couple of guys in the training room. So we took a look at him there.”
It makes sense to move Long outside to right tackle because of his combination of strength and athleticism, but he has gone to two straight Pro Bowls as a guard. If the Bears opt to keep Long at guard, the battle for the starting right tackle job will be something to keep an eye on in training camp.
Jordan Mills started all 16 games at right tackle in 2013 and 13 games at right tackle last season, but he struggled in pass protection.
According to Pro Football Focus, between 2013 and 2014, Mills gave up a total of nine sacks, 19 quarterback hits and 93 quarterback hurries. He finished the 2013 season with a minus-36.2 overall grade, and last season, he finished with a minus-15.7 grade.
He is serviceable in the running game, but he has been a liability in pass protection the last two seasons. Mills sits atop the depth chart at right tackle because of his experience, but he will have to earn the job over guys like Michael Ola, Charles Leno and Tayo Fabuluje this summer.
Ola made starts all over the offensive line last season, including three starts at right tackle. According to Pro Football Focus, Ola allowed just one quarterback hit, six quarterback hurries and no sacks in his 207 snaps at right tackle in 2014.
He also needs to improve in pass protection, but his athleticism makes him an upgrade over Mills.
The Bears selected Leno in the seventh round of the 2014 draft, and he appeared in five games last season and made one start. He is an athletic tackle who displays good footwork, but he needs to get stronger at the point of attack.
Fabuluje was taken in the sixth round of this year's draft, and the TCU product is too raw to claim a starting job this season. He is strong and powerful, but he needs to improve his mobility.
If Long is moved to right tackle, the focus will shift to the right guard position. But if he stays at guard, the right tackle battle will come down to Mills and Ola.
4. Backup Running Back
2 of 5
Matt Forte will sit atop Chicago's depth chart at the running back position once again this season, but the spots behind him are currently up for grabs.
Chicago drafted Jeremy Langford out of Michigan State in the fourth round of this year's draft and signed veterans Jacquizz Rodgers and Daniel Thomas in free agency to compete with Ka'Deem Carey and Senorise Perry to back up Forte.
Langford is a speedy running back who has good hands, but he needs to prove he can hold his own in pass protection. Since the Bears used a draft pick on him this season, his spot on the roster is safe, but that does not mean is a lock to be Chicago's No. 2 running back.
Rodgers signed a one-year deal with the Bears this offseason after spending his first four years in the league with the Atlanta Falcons. He is a between-the-tackles runner who is good in the short-yardage game, and he is also a good receiver out of the backfield.
While Rodgers is more than serviceable in the running and passing game, he is at his best when asked to be a blocker. According to Pro Football Focus, Rodgers allowed just one quarterback hurry last season during the 78 times he was asked to stay in pass protection—which was the best pass-blocking performance from a running back last season.
Miami drafted Thomas in the second round of the 2011 draft, and the former Kansas State Wildcat rushed for 1,480 yards on 409 carries with 10 touchdowns during his time with the Dolphins. He also hauled in 55 passes for 412 yards and three touchdowns.
Like Rodgers, Thomas is at his best between the tackles, but he needs to improve in pass protection. He is a good short-yardage back, but he will have a tough time beating out Rodgers for the third-down running back spot.
Carey appeared in 14 games last season as a rookie for the Bears and carried the football 36 times for 158 yards. He showed flashes of his potential during the preseason, but he was used sparingly last year in former head coach Marc Trestman's system.
Perry made Chicago's roster last season as an undrafted rookie, but he played exclusively on special teams. His ability on special teams makes him a valuable player, but it will be difficult for him to make the roster this season.
It is not known how many running backs the Bears will carry this season, but only Forte and Langford are locks to make the roster. Rodgers and Thomas are both candidates for the third-down running back job, while Carey is still an unknown because of how little he was used last season.
Forte will get the majority of the reps in training camp since the team is in the process of learning a new offense, so the backups will have to earn a spot on the roster during the preseason.
3. Inside Linebacker
3 of 5
The Bears currently have eight inside linebackers on their roster, but only four appear to be real threats to claim a starting job this season.
Jonathan Bostic, Mason Foster, Christian Jones and Shea McClellin are Chicago's top options at inside linebacker, and all four will be competing in training camp for two starting spots.
The Bears drafted Bostic in the second round of the 2013 draft, but he struggled when he was thrust into the starting lineup his rookie season. Last year, he played all three linebacker spots in the team's 4-3 defense, but he struggled with injuries.
Bostic is an athletic linebacker who moves well laterally, but he struggles with reading and reacting to plays. He often gets swallowed up by opposing linemen in the running game, and he needs to improve in pass coverage. According to Pro Football Focus, he finished last season with a minus-6.5 grade against the pass.
Foster signed a one-year deal with the Bears this offseason after spending the first four years of his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He finished his Buccaneers career with 343 tackles, six sacks, 12 pass deflections and five interceptions.
The former University of Washington star moves well from sideline to sideline, and he is athletic enough to match up with speedy running backs and tight ends in the passing game.
Jones earned a spot on the team last season after going undrafted, and the former Florida State Seminole appeared in all 16 games. He made five starts and finished the year with 69 tackles and two sacks. He has the speed to keep up with tight ends and running backs in the passing game, he can play downhill against the run and he also has the ability to rush the quarterback from all over the field.
McClellin moved to inside linebacker earlier this offseason after spending the 2012 and 2013 seasons as a 4-3 defensive end and last season as a strong-side linebacker.
McClellin has been a disappointment up to this point in his career, but Fox thinks highly of the former Boise State Bronco.
“I think he's a smart, young player,” Fox said, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com. “I think he's been moved around. I think he's been in some different systems. I think he's adapted pretty well. We'll get to see where that goes when we get to training camp.”
He is an athletic linebacker who moves well in space, but he has struggled throughout his career when asked to shed blockers.
All four linebackers have the ability to be starters this season, and the battle for the two starting inside linebacker jobs this offseason is going to be one of the team's most intriguing.
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2. Cornerback
4 of 5
Veteran cornerback Tim Jennings hauled in 13 interceptions between 2012 and 2013, and he was named to the Pro Bowl following both of those seasons.
He regressed a bit last season and finished the year without an interception for the first time since 2007. Jennings was a great fit in Chicago's Cover 2 defense under former head coach Lovie Smith and former defensive coordinator Mel Tucker because of his ability to play zone coverage, but he is not the best fit in new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's scheme.
Fangio prefers taller cornerbacks who can press the receiver at the line of scrimmage, but Jennings is listed at 5'8" and weighs 185 pounds. Earlier this offseason, Fox said Jennings is a good fit at nickelback.
"Dimension-wise, he's built like a nickel corner," Fox said, according to Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune. "He has played it before."
The Bears opted to add size and experience to the position this offseason by signing Alan Ball to a one-year, $3 million contract. He is listed at 6'2" and 197 pounds, and CBSChicago.com's Dan Durkin listed Ball as a potential breakthrough player for the Bears at cornerback.
"Ball has some technique issues he can clean up, specifically being better with his jam technique at the line," Durkin wrote. "But he’s a natural knee-bender who can sink and fluidly flip his hips to stay with a receiver, and his length is an asset on contested passes."
In 93 career games, Ball has registered 216 tackles, 34 pass deflections and six interceptions. The amount of money the Bears gave him in free agency proves they think he can make a big impact this season.
The Bears could always use Jennings on the outside in the team's base package and move him inside to the slot in their nickel package, but he has not been told what his role is going to be this season.
"That's the question I'm still trying to figure out," he said, according to Wiederer.
Jennings and Ball are both capable starters, but even though Jennings is a two-time Pro Bowler, his job could be in jeopardy because Ball is a better fit in Fangio's system.
1. Defensive End
5 of 5
Since the Bears decided to move to a 3-4 defense this offseason, many players along the defensive line have been forced to move to a new position.
2014 draft picks Ego Ferguson and Will Sutton were both good fits at the defensive tackle position in the team's 4-3 defense last season, but they have been asked to move outside to defensive end in the team's new 3-4 defense.
Even though they are playing out of their element at the 5-technique defensive end position, both Ferguson and Sutton have embraced the move this offseason.
"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."
Ferguson noted it is all about feeling comfortable at the new position.
"The more comfortable we get, the more plays we'll make," Ferguson said, according to Nabors. "It comes down to everyone getting used to each other and understanding how to rush with each other."
The Bears signed veteran Ray McDonald earlier this offseason to help bring stability to the defensive end position, but he was released following an arrest in late May.
As it currently stands, the only defensive end on the roster who has played in a 3-4 defense before is former Washington Redskin Jarvis Jenkins.
Veteran Jeremiah Ratliff previously played in a 3-4 defense when he was with the Dallas Cowboys, but he was used primarily as a nose tackle. He could be the starter at the 0-technique position this season, but the Bears drafted Eddie Goldman in the second round of this year's draft to help solidify the middle of the team's defensive line.
Ratliff will either be the starter at nose tackle or at one of the defensive end spots this season, meaning at least one of the starting defensive end spots is still wide-open.
Ferguson is a good run defender who is strong at the point of attack, but he needs to improve as a pass-rusher. Sutton is an explosive lineman who has a good first step, but he needs to get stronger in order to be a two-gap player in the team's 3-4 defense.
Jenkins needs to improve as a pass-rusher, but his experience playing in a 3-4 could help him earn a starting job.
As important as the linebacker positions and secondary positions are in any defense, the defensive end positions are two of the most important in a 3-4 defense. Not only do the ends have to stop the run, but they also need to be able to put pressure on the quarterback.
Assuming Ratliff starts at one of the defensive end spots, the battle for the other starting job between Ferguson, Sutton and Jenkins will be the team's most crucial this offseason.
Statistical information and measurables courtesy of NFL.com unless otherwise noted. All contract information courtesy of Spotrac.
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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