The Chicago Bears Training Camp Review: The Tight Ends

The tight end position has always been one of importance in the NFL and has, in the last few years, come back into prominence in the Chicago offense.  Both Desmond Clark and Greg Olsen have become valuable cogs in the wheel for the Bears and with the addition of quarterback Jay Cutler, these guys should see a lot more action thanks to this acquisition.  Olsen is poised to have a break out season (and quite possibly a Pro Bowl berth) this year and could end up being one of the better tight ends in the NFL at the end of 2009.  As the tight end position is a key part of blocking from time to time, the Bears did go out and sign former Carolina Panther and Detroit Lion tight end Michael Gaines.  They are fully loaded at the tight end position now and ready for the 2009 NFL Season.

The following is a look at each player at the tight end position on the Bears roster as they head into training camp in July.  There is a look back at their performance in 2008, an update on how their off season has gone and a look ahead into how they should fare in training camp.

Greg Olsen-If he wasn’t already, Olsen will most likely become the number one tight end on the team this season and have what should be a Pro Bowl year thanks to the arrival of Cutler.  Olsen had his emergence in 2008 making several key plays and proving that he is a quick pass catching tight end.  This off season, he has spent a lot of time, both on and off the field, with Cutler and they have developed a rapport that should translate to success on the field.  Heading into training camp Olsen looks like a primary target for the Bears offense and as will be discovered in training camp, he may be the best receiving asset that they have on team barring a veteran wide receiver acquisition this off season. 

Desmond Clark-Clark may be getting up there in age but he still has a lot left in the tank and along with Olsen, may form one of the best tight end tandems in the NFL.  Clark had a solid but not spectacular season in 2008 and looks to rebound a bit thanks to stability at the quarterback position.  There hasn’t been too much talk about Clark so far this off season but he is ready for training camp and ready to contribute.  He will most likely slide to the number two tight end spot behind Olsen but still be a big contributor in the passing game and give Cutler another fine receiving option at the tight end position.

Michael Gaines-The Bears signed Gaines, a former Carolina Panther and Detroit Lion, not really as a pass catching tight end but as a blocker.  Some tight ends are better blockers than they are pass catchers (and vice versa) and so the Bears decided to bring in a blocking tight end to help them out with protecting Cutler and helping open up some holes in the running game.  Last season, Gaines played in all 16 games for the Lions last season on a team that overall, wasn’t very productive.  He should get an opportunity to come in and block in 2009 and could land as the third tight end on the roster when all is said and done at the end of training camp and help enhance an already improved offensive line with his blocking skills.

Kellen Davis-Davis was “put on notice” when the Bears signed Gaines in knowing that if he didn’t improve his blocking skills, he might get shown the door.  Davis, in only his second season, had no real remarkable or notable plays in 2008 and needs to have a great camp in order to stay with the team in 2009.  He has the size that you would want in a tight end but just doesn’t seem to have the receiving or blocking skills that the team desires.  He may be the odd man out at the end of training camp this summer.

Fontel Mines-Mines is a perpetual practice squad tight end who has never really contributed but the Bears still end up keeping him around.  Mines will most likely be looking for another team at the end of training camp this summer as the Bears will probably only keep three tight ends on the roster and with Clark and Olsen shoe ins, it’s hard to see Mines beating out Gaines or even Davis.

The tight end position may be one of the Bears biggest strengths and as long as the injury bug doesn’t hit this unit, it should be one of the best in the NFL.  Look for Olsen to make the Pro Bowl and put up some big numbers while Clark contributes catching the ball and Gaines helps keep Cutler protected and help get the running game going strong.