How I'd Trim The Chicago Bears Roster to 53

The NFL’s annual call to arms is the final roster cut, requiring teams to trim 22 players and reach 53 for the start of the regular season.

The Bears’ final preseason game Thursday with Cleveland will give opportunities to candidates for the final four or five roster spots to make their final push.

“Sometimes when you’re under pressure, you see the best in guys, and that’s what we’re hoping,” Bears coach Lovie Smith said. “I’ve seen some players take advantage of the situation and really make an impression and that’s what we’re hoping."

“We have a good idea about who will be on the 53-man roster, but there are still a couple of openings and hopefully some of these guys will show us that they want to be there.”

Starters should get no more than a few series, if that, based on what the Bears have done in past final preseason games.  It should be just enough to stay in sync.

“Just so you don’t lose that edge,” quarterback Jay Cutler said. “I mean, taking a week off later in the season I think it’s good to give us a rest (at the bye). But right now I think we need all the experience we can get.”

They have even less incentive to play starters very long in this one because they also host the Browns in the regular season. “It’s always interesting when you play them to see exactly how much teams will show this first time around,” Smith said.

It’s not likely to be much.

So with coaches closely guarding who they like for those final roster spots like it’s a state secret, here’s what I would do if they came to me and asked.

Quarterback

Go with three. Cutler and Caleb Hanie have proven themselves. Brett Basanez would have to have a spectacular final preseason game or have Hanie get hurt to make this team from my perspective.

Two QBs isn’t enough, so the Bears should look at the waiver wire. There will plenty of young quarterbacks with strong arms and mobility who will get cut over Labor Day weekend.



Running back

Go with three: Matt Forte, Kevin Jones and Adrian Peterson.  Cut Garrett Wolfe. Wolfe has shown he can fumble near the goal line this preseason.

Peterson put on a display against the Broncos while being subjected to the humiliation of playing against fourth-string people who will be greeters at Target stores next week.  He has been a quality backup who can take a hit and deliver them on special teams in addition to carrying the ball out of the backfield in all situations.

Wolfe’s only unique asset is that he’s little and can run behind big linemen without being seen. That’s not enough. He can’t run with power, like the other three. And when your starter, Matt Forte, really doesn’t need to come off the field on third down, having another player who is only a third-down back is superfluous.

They could keep one fullback, Jason McKie. Either one of the other two would be fine on the practice squad. No one’s going to beat their door down to sign them off waivers to a 53-man roster.

Tight ends

The Bears would love to keep four because Michael Gaines is a good blocker, receiver and capable on special teams. But keeping him behind Greg Olsen, Desmond Clark and Kellen Davis would be wasting a roster spot necessary elsewhere.

Wide receivers

This is the greatest question mark cut area facing the Bears at cut time. It’s going to get even more complicated after final roster cuts because there are sure to be more free players floating around with talent who are highly regarded by the Bears’ personnel department.

And don’t expect them to trade for Brandon Marshall. Denver isn’t even trying to trade him.

For now, I would keep the two starters, Devin Hester and Earl Bennett, as well as Devin Aromashodu, rookies Juaquin Iglesias and Johnny Knox…and also Rashied Davis.
I know Davis is the least popular Bears receiver, as a poll I conducted here showed about 25 percent more favor cutting him than any other receiver. But his special teams abilities are far better than the rookies and also Aromashodu or Brandon Rideau.

Aromashodu has Jay Cutler’s eye. He and Rideau have only three catches in three preseason games each. Rideau has been in Lake Forest now in parts of three seasons. They know his ceiling, to use general manager Jerry Angelo’s terms. They don’t know a lot about Aromashodu, but the mere fact he was on the Colts and around that stable of receivers for more than a season tells me he would have learned some things Rideau doesn’t know.

Aromashodu did a poor job running two routes in Sunday’s game, but he’s done more to step up this camp than Rideau.

Notice I have six receiver spots on the roster. Offensive coordinator Ron Turner talked about having five receivers last week, but that wasn’t etched in stone. With two rookies in the group, that sixth spot is necessary and should go to a veteran who plays special teams like Davis.

They can afford the extra wide receiver because I’ve got them cutting one of the backs.

Offensive line

Starters Olin Kreutz, Orlando Pace, Frank Omiyale, Roberto Garza and Chris Williams, backed by Josh Beekman, Kevin Shaffer, Lance Louis and Dan Buenning. Beekman can play guard or center, Buenning guard and Louis, who has been a surprise of camp, can be an extra tackle behind Shaffer, but also can play guard.

He also could come in as a blocking tight end in short yardage or goal line.

Specialists

There are no changes with kicker Robbie Gould, long snapper Patrick Mannelly and punter Brad Maynard holding down the spots.

Defensive line

The Bears are blessed to have a player like Israel Idonije, who can step in at any of the line positions and has had no problem losing 40 pounds and still playing effectively at all the spots around 270.

With Idonije, Adewale Ogunleye, Mark Anderson, Alex Brown, Jarron Gilbert, Tommie Harris, Anthony Adams and Marcus Harrison on the line, the Bears appear set. 

However, they should also keep Matt Toeaina. Harris is always a question because of his knee and finding someone who can fill in as well as Toeaina wouldn’t be easy this late in the ballgame.

Draft pick Henry Melton is destined for injured reserve.

Linebacker

They’ve got some tough calls here. Nick Roach came into the offseason a starter, but has moved himself off the roster, in my opinion.

Roach had a second concussion in his short Bears career and had one at Northwestern. He’s too much of a risk, and it would be much better to have Darrell “The Commando” McClover on special teams in that roster spot.

Besides starters Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs and Pisa Tinoisamoa, they should keep Hunter Hillenmeyer because he can play middle and strong side. Jamar Williams’ foot injury is a bit mysterious but if he is healed he should be back.

Retaining Marcus Freeman would make it seven linebackers, but that’s a good working number. Freeman who is from Ohio State, has good upside and made a nice play on a tipped pass for an interception in the last game.

Defensive backs

Cornerback Charles Tillman likely won’t be ready for the opener, but it’s not worth putting him on injury reserve because it’s unlikely to be more than a few weeks until he’s ready.

The other corners should be Nate Vasher, Zack Bowman, Corey Graham and Rod Hood. That is, unless Hood proves an absolute washout. It would take that for him to be cut because Trumaine McBride has been almost a complete washout in the last two preseason games. Two weeks ago Vasher's career here seemed up in the air, but coaches have spoke glowingly of him the past week so it's apparent he'll stay here.

One cornerback they wouldn’t mind keeping is Woodny Turenne. Look for him to remain with the practice squad.

At safety, they should keep Danieal Manning, Kevin Payne, Al Afalava and Craig Steltz. Josh Bullocks just hasn’t done enough to dislodge Steltz, who also happens to be a favorite of special teams coordinator Dave Toub.

With these nine, the Bears have some versatility because Graham can also play safety and can be a nickel back behind Manning.

The last spot appears to be between Hood and fourth round draft pick D.J. Moore. Although Moore hasn’t done much of anything and I would cut him, we all know how much Angelo loves his draft picks. Draft pedigree or not, they should dump him.

That’s 53.  All the nitpicking over the roster will seem so silly in a week because most of those discussed at the bottom of the roster this week won’t even be active on game day come Sundays.