Identifying Chicago Bears' Biggest Strengths, Weaknesses After Draft
The Chicago Bears approach to the 2015 draft was simple: take the best player available, as GM Ryan Pace noted, per the team's official Twitter account:
"#Bears GM Ryan Pace on draft: "It was really the best player available the whole way through."
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 3, 2015"
Pace added talent on both sides of the football, and he spoke over the weekend about staying true to his board.
“You have to be disciplined with that,” Pace said, according to Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times. “When I’ve seen mistakes in the draft, it’s because you do that. We promised ourselves, and we pride ourselves that we won’t do that.”
Instead of reaching for a player who would help add depth to a position of need, Pace stuck with his plan and came away with—in his mind—the six best players available at the time of their selection.
Taking the best player available will ultimately help the team in the long run, but that approach often leads to some positions of need going unaddressed. Pace has done a good job of adding talent to a Bears team that lost 11 games last season, but there are still some positions that can be viewed as weaknesses following the draft.
What positions are Chicago's strongest? Which are their weakest? We explore that ahead.
Strength: Running Back
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Even though the Bears have one of the best running backs in the league in Matt Forte and signed veteran Jacquizz Rodgers to compete with second-year man Ka'Deem Carey for a backup role this offseason, Pace opted to select Michigan State running back Jeremy Langford in the fourth round over the weekend.
In two seasons as a starter, Langford rushed for 2,944 yards on 568 carries and scored 40 touchdowns for the Spartans. He ran a 4.42 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in February, and head coach John Fox was drawn to Langford because of his speed and versatility, saying, according to Kevin Fishbain of ChicagoFootball.com:
"I think the breakaway speed, as [Pace] talked about. There’s flexibility there positionally. He’s played on defense before. Sometimes that comes into a factor as far as fourth down or special teams.
The guy’s tackled somebody before. He’s been in that kind of environment. I thought his versatility, catching the ball. He’s got the breakaway speed and he’s been a productive guy.
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The addition of Langford in the draft helps make Chicago's running back corps the team's strongest. Forte will get the brunt of the load again in 2015, but Carey, Rodgers and Langford could all be in the running to be the No. 2 next season.
Carey was given limited opportunities last season under former head coach Marc Trestman, but he was a highly regarded selection in last year's draft and could potentially thrive in offensive coordinator Adam Gase's scheme.
Rodgers was a fifth-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons back in 2011 and spent the majority of his time in Atlanta as a third-down back. He has good hands out of the backfield and can also contribute in the return game.
Langford, in addition to possessing tremendous speed, also has great hands and is good in pass protection.
“I think I can hit the hole and run, and at the same time get the 3rd-and-shorts," Langford said, according to Fishbain. "I feel like I could be used in any situation, on third down or be able to catch the ball out of the backfield. I feel like I’m very versatile."
In addition to those four, the Bears also have 2014 undrafted free agent Senorise Perry on the roster. He earned his spot with the team in training camp last summer and spent part of the season as a kick returner and gunner on special teams.
Forte will be the team's starter this season, but the Bears could conceivably keep four running backs on the roster and use Langford, Carey and Rodgers in a variety of different ways in 2015.
Weakness: Cornerback
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The Bears are poised to head into the 2015 season with former first-round pick Kyle Fuller and former two-time Pro Bowler Tim Jennings as starters at the cornerback position, but Pace failed to add to the position in this year's draft.
Pace had the opportunity to take a cornerback in each round of the draft, but he stuck with his best-player-available strategy and only selected one defensive back—Penn State safety Adrian Amos—in the fifth round.
Amos has experience playing cornerback, but his best position in the NFL is at free safety.
The Bears added veteran Alan Ball in free agency and re-signed Sherrick McManis, Demontre Hurst and Al Louis-Jean this offseason, but only Ball has significant starting experience.
Ball was taken in the seventh round of the 2007 draft by Dallas and has played in 93 games in eight seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars. In his career, he has registered 216 tackles, 34 pass deflections and six interceptions.
He is a solid backup and has the ability to play on the outside, but he is 30 years old and is coming off a biceps injury which caused him to miss nine games last season.
McManis, Hurst, Louis-Jean and second-year man Terrance Mitchell are all good special teams contributors, but none possess the ability to match up on the outside at cornerback.
The team could scour the free-agent market or wait until cuts are made in training camp to add another body at the position, but after not adding a young cornerback in the draft over the weekend, the position remains a weakness for the Bears.
Strength: Outside Linebacker
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One of Chicago's biggest moves this offseason was signing outside linebacker Pernell McPhee to a long-term contract once free agency opened up on March 12.
The Bears are transitioning from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 defense this offseason, and Pace thinks McPhee is a perfect fit in Chicago's new scheme.
"He is a highly productive, disruptive and versatile defender," Pace said about McPhee in March, according to Larry Mayer of ChicagoBears.com. "This guy not only brings the top physical talent but also the right mentality and makeup to improve our football team."
In addition to McPhee, the Bears signed veteran outside linebacker Sam Acho to a one-year deal, and they are moving defensive ends Jared Allen, Lamarr Houston, Willie Young, Jamil Merrell, Austen Lane and David Bass to outside linebacker in their new scheme.
The Bears currently have eight outside linebackers on their roster, and that number could go up to 10 if Shea McClellin and Christian Jones see time on the outside.
Selecting a pass-rushing outside linebacker in this year's draft would have made sense for the Bears because a team can never have too many pass-rushers, but with 10 guys currently on the roster who are projected to play the position, the Bears opted to address other areas in the draft.
There is no guarantee Allen, Houston, Young and the others will have success in their new position, but the move sounds like it has rejuvenated Allen, who said, according to John Mullin of CSNChicago.com:
"It just kind of really refreshed me, especially coming off from last year where, I’ll be real honest, mentally I never really experienced that in my career and I had to own that. I told the guys, that wasn’t me and to be back and to challenge mentally and be a part of something that’s bigger than just individual. It’s truly a team.
The entire energy is different around here. It’s really cool to just walk in here. So that breeds that competition and just excitement. So for me it’s just kind of at 12 years in to kind of start over, it’s real cool.
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With so many new edge-rushers, the Bears should be able to keep a steady rotation going at outside linebacker this season, and if they falter, they will be able to address the position in next year's draft.
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Weakness: Inside Linebacker
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While the Bears have plenty of options at outside linebacker, they are limited on the inside.
Mason Foster was signed to a one-year deal this offseason and will likely be one of the team's starters at inside linebacker, but the other starting inside linebacker position appears to be wide-open.
Third-year man Jon Bostic has the best chance to take over the spot in 2015, but he will be competing with Jones, McClellin, Khaseem Greene, DeDe Lattimore and Jonathan Brown for the open spot.
Bostic was a second-round pick of the Bears back in 2013, but he struggled to hold down one position in Chicago's old defense. He initially began his career at middle linebacker, but he spent time at both weak-side linebacker and strong-side linebacker last season. The inside linebacker position in a 3-4 may be more conducive to his skill set, but he will need to improve against the run in order to claim a starting job.
Jones went undrafted last year, but he appeared in all 16 games and registered 69 tackles and two sacks and started five of the team's last 11 games. He has the potential to line up both inside and outside, and he could be a wild card in defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's scheme.
A first-round pick of the Bears back in 2012, McClellin has struggled to make an impact in the NFL. He spent his time at Boise State as a 3-4 outside linebacker, but the Bears decided to turn him into a 4-3 defensive end. He struggled with his hand in the ground and moved to strong-side linebacker last season but proved to be a liability in pass coverage.
He could potentially be moved to outside linebacker in Chicago's new defense, but Fox wants to use him on the inside first.
“It hasn’t gone as well for him as far as position fit," Fox said, according to Jahns. "In fairness to him, that’s not to be judgmental on anybody else, but I think the transition is we’re going to start him inside because it’s a harder position to learn as far as run fits and how they set in there. But he’ll be both.”
McClellin is intriguing because he proved at Boise State he has the ability to get after the quarterback, but his days in Chicago may be numbered if he cannot prove his worth in Fangio's defense.
Greene and Lattimore both contributed on special teams last season, while Brown spent part of last year on Chicago's practice squad.
Chicago's inside linebacker corps has potential, but the Bears would have been better off adding another linebacker in the draft to compete for the other starting inside linebacker spot next to Mason.
Strength: Wide Receiver
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After trading Brandon Marshall to the New York Jets earlier this offseason, Chicago's wide receiver corps looked to be one of the team's weakest.
Pace struck quickly in free agency and signed veteran Eddie Royal to play out of the slot, and he drafted one of the two best wide receivers in this year's draft in West Virginia's Kevin White on Thursday night.
Not to be forgotten, the Bears also have Alshon Jeffery on the roster.
Jeffery is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and will now become Chicago's No. 1 receiver following Marshall's departure.
‘‘It’s taking that challenge of being that guy,’’ Jeffery said about being the team's No. 1 receiver, according to Jahns. ‘‘I’m just going to work hard to prove that I’m there.’’
Former Bear Willie Gault thinks there will be an adjustment for Jeffery without Marshall, but he believes the former South Carolina wideout has what it takes to be a No. 1.
‘‘He’s a complete receiver,’’ said Gault, according to Jahns. ‘‘But with he and Marshall together, it was like: Who are you going to stop? Who are you going to double? It’s tough when you lose a guy like Marshall, but I’m sure they’ll figure it out.’’
After trading away Marshall, it looked like Jeffery would have some growing pains in Chicago's offense, but adding White in the draft gives Chicago another playmaker on offense.
"This guy is a special athlete," Pace said about White, according to Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times. "For his size, he’s big, he runs 4.3 [40-yard dash], he’s strong after the catch, and he’s a physical blocker. He really checks all the boxes you’re looking for in a receiver in our offense.”
White can stretch the field with his speed, and he will give quarterback Jay Cutler another reliable target on the outside.
Royal is entering his eighth year in the league, and while he has never topped 1,000 receiving yards in a season before, he is steady and reliable out of the slot and should be a safety valve for Cutler in the middle of the field.
Weakness: Safety
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The Bears added veteran Antrel Rolle in free agency to help solidify the safety position, but they lack playmakers behind him.
Rolle will likely be the team's starting free safety in 2015 because of his ability to roam from sideline to sideline in pass coverage, but the strong safety position appears to be wide-open.
Ryan Mundy started all 16 games last season at strong safety and played well against the run, but he struggled against the pass and was nothing more than a spot-starter in Pittsburgh and New York before coming to Chicago.
The team drafted Brock Vereen out of Minnesota last year, and he appeared in all 16 games in 2014 and registered 39 tackles, one interception and one forced fumble. He has some upside and could be utilized as a hybrid safety/cornerback in Fangio's scheme.
The Bears signed former McNeese State safety Malcolm Bronson last week after participating in Chicago's minicamp. He went undrafted in 2013 and spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Chicago bypassed a handful of safeties in the draft last week before taking Amos in the fifth round. Amos spent time at cornerback for the Nittany Lions before making the transition to safety. He's quick and athletic, and Pace likes his versatility.
“A versatile player. He’s played corner, he’s played nickel, he’s played safety, so we like the coverage versatility that he brings," Pace said, according to ChicagoFootball.com's Arthur Arkush. "Just a high-character guy who’s extremely intelligent."
Amos was a nice addition in the fifth round, but it is unlikely he has much of an impact next season. He, along with Vereen, are good developmental safeties for the future, but the Bears lack overall talent at the position.
Strength: Offensive Line
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Chicago's offensive line took a step back last season following a handful of injuries, but the unit should be stronger in 2015.
Veteran center Roberto Garza was cut earlier this offseason, and two-time Pro Bowl guard Kyle Long is set to take over as Chicago's new leader along the offensive line.
Long was on the Rich Eisen Show last week and spoke about what the team needs to improve upon from last year in order to be successful, saying, according to CSNChicago.com's Chris Boden:
"We need to score more points than the other team, and defensively we need to allow less points than we're scoring. If we can't play defense, if we can't play offense or special teams, good things aren't going to happen. I feel we have the right people in the building to achieve that. It's been very evident the past two days it's a different culture here.
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He will once again anchor the right side this season, but he could possibly switch to right tackle if the Bears want to best utilize his talents.
“He’s very athletic, and he’s very well-rounded,” Pace said at the combine about Long (via Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times). “I think he can play multiple positions on the offensive line."
If Long is not moved to tackle, the Bears will likely have Jordan Mills and Michael Ola compete for the starting job. Both have struggled at times in the past at right tackle, but they both have potential.
To replace Garza, the Bears signed veteran Will Montgomery to a one-year deal this offseason and drafted Oregon's Hroniss Grasu in the third round of the draft.
Montgomery is a savvy veteran who has experience in Fox's system, and Grasu could potentially play guard this season if the Bears opt to move Long to tackle.
The Bears spent the majority of last season without starting left guard Matt Slauson because of a torn pectoral muscle, but he is expected to be the team's starter on the left side when Chicago opens up against the Green Bay Packers in Week 1.
Left tackle Jermon Bushrod struggled at times last season, but he could see an improvement in his play under Gase.
Backup Ryan Groy started three games at left guard last season and could be a key reserve in 2015.
Chicago's offensive line is not among the league's best, but the unit proved in 2013 it has the ability to open up lanes in the running game, and it can protect the quarterback when healthy.
Weakness: Defensive Line
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The Bears added veteran defensive linemen Ray McDonald and Jarvis Jones in free agency and drafted defensive tackle/end Eddie Goldman in the second round, but the defensive line as a whole is a weakness.
McDonald and Jones have experience playing the 5-technique defensive end position in a 3-4 defense and should have significant roles in 2015, but the team lacks experience at the position behind them.
Ego Ferguson, Will Sutton and Cornelius Washington will all likely compete for playing time at defensive end, but none of them have played on the outside in a 3-4 defense.
Goldman and Ferguson will likely also team up with veteran Jeremiah Ratliff on the inside at the 0-technique nose tackle position.
After he was taken 39th overall last Friday, Goldman spoke about idolizing Ratliff growing up.
"I just liked how physical he was, and his quickness and his grit and stuff like that,” Goldman said, according to Finley.
Ratliff, Goldman, Ferguson, McDonald and Jenkins will likely get the majority of the reps along the defensive line this season, and while they have the ability to be productive, there are still too many unknowns.
Ratliff turns 34 in August, Goldman and Ferguson are unproven at the NFL level, McDonald turns 31 in September and Jenkins has failed to live up to the hype of being a second-round pick back in 2011.
The defensive line has a chance to be productive in 2015, but they would benefit from adding more depth sometime this offseason.
Statistical information courtesy of Sports-Reference.com and NFL.com. Combine numbers courtesy of NFL.com.
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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