Chicago Bears: Early Rookie Progress Reports
Following the conclusion of the NFL draft earlier this month, all of the Chicago Bears' rookies participated in rookie minicamp May 8-10. For many of Chicago's rookies, it was their first chance to practice in months.
"It’s an amazing feeling," said third-round pick Hroniss Grasu, per Larry Mayer of ChicagoBears.com. "I’ve been out of football for a long time. It feels like forever."
Grasu was last on the field in early January when Oregon took on Ohio State in the national championship game, but the rookie center has turned the page and is focused on his new team.
"It’s a huge honor to be out there, a huge honor to wear Chicago Bears gear and be out here and play for such a great team," Grasu said, per Mayer.
All of Chicago's rookies are making the adjustment from college football to the NFL, and they will get the chance to compete alongside the team's veterans when organized team activities (OTAs) resume on May 27.
So how have some of Chicago's rookies looked so far this offseason? We explore that ahead as we take a look at some early rookie progress reports.
WR Kevin White
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When it was Chicago's turn to make its first selection in this year's draft, West Virginia wide receiver Kevin White was the obvious choice for new general manager Ryan Pace.
“This was an easy pick,” Pace said at the time, according to John Mullin of CSNChicago.com. “Stay true to our board, take the best player available, and let's get a playmaker. Whether it's defense or offense, let's get a playmaker in the top 10 and that's what we did.”
In the end, the draft board fell exactly how Pace thought it would, and he selected the best player on his draft board.
“[The first round has] pretty much come off how we thought it would,” Pace said, according to Mullin. “We’re really choosing between two players at this point. For us it was an easy decision with Kevin White.”
White gives the Bears a reliable receiver to pair with former Pro Bowler Alshon Jeffery, and while he still needs to refine his route running and technique, offensive coordinator Adam Gase likes what he has seen from the young receiver so far this offseason.
"I like Kevin’s size. I like his speed," Gase said, according to Arthur Arkush of ChicagoFootball.com. "I like what we saw on tape coming out. I like the energy he brings to practice. We have such a long way to go but we felt very good drafting him at No. 7."
He impressed the coaching staff in just a handful of minicamp practices, but he will now need to prove during OTAs he can bring that same level of energy when he is practicing against veterans.
White has not been handed one of the team's starting wide receiver jobs, but it would come as a shock if he does not line up opposite of Jeffery in Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers.
DT Eddie Goldman
2 of 5
After addressing the offensive side of the football in the first round with White, Pace took Florida State nose tackle Eddie Goldman in the second round.
Goldman is a perfect fit at the 0-technique nose tackle position in Chicago's new 3-4 defense, and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio liked what he saw from the former Seminole in rookie minicamp, saying, according to Kevin Fishbain of ChicagoFootball.com:
"He's big and strong, which is important. We don't feel like he'll get knocked back into our inside linebackers, which is really important. That's job 1 for any of the 3 guys up front. We feel like he's strong and is able to get off blocks and make some plays in there, and hopefully we can get some pass rush out of him, too.
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Goldman is not a flashy player who will put up big sack numbers, but he has the ability to plug gaps in the running game and can help collapse the pocket up the middle.
In addition to being productive on the field at Florida State, Goldman also worked hard off the field and often studied game film for hours at a time.
“Last year when Eddie got out of class, he came to my office and he started watching film at least an hour a day, four or five days a week, and he started understanding the game,” said Florida State associate head coach Odell Haggins, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
The nose tackle position is not the most glamorous position on the field, but it is an important position in Fangio's 3-4 defense, and Goldman knows what his role is going to be.
"As long as you don't mind being physical and as long as you can dish out punishment, that's all there is to it," he said, according to Fishbain.
He has a chance to earn the starting nose tackle job in training camp, but he will have to prove he can consistently take on double-teams if he wants to begin the season as a starter.
QB Shane Carden
3 of 5
The Bears opted not to select a quarterback with one of their six draft picks, but they quickly signed East Carolina's Shane Carden as an undrafted rookie following the conclusion of the draft.
“He was actually a guy that we had good grades on, a guy that could have potentially been a draft pick,” head coach John Fox said, per Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com. “Our scouts, obviously, saw a lot more of him than the coaching staff. But he was productive, smart. He has good moxie, being able to execute in a pass offense that throws the ball quite a bit and was very productive.”
Carden threw for 11,991 yards with 86 touchdowns and 30 interceptions in three seasons at East Carolina, but he is more of a thrower than a passer. He struggles to use his lower body to drive through his throws, and he uses a sidearm delivery that will need to be corrected in order to be successful in the NFL.
Despite his deficiencies, Bleacher Report's Dan Pompei thought the young quarterback looked good in rookie minicamp.
"Shane Carden looked a little better than expected," Pompei tweeted at the time. "He made some nice throws outside the numbers."
He does not have all the physical tools to be a successful NFL quarterback, but he has the right mindset and work ethic.
“Right now I’m just learning this playbook as fast as I can, getting down to competing, getting better every day, just showing I can pick this playbook up,” Carden said, per Dickerson. “I’m going to go out there and compete every day. But it’s fun, it’s fun learning a new playbook.”
Jay Cutler and Jimmy Clausen are firmly entrenched atop the team's depth chart at quarterback, but Carden could make the 53-man roster as the team's No. 3 quarterback or earn a spot on the practice squad with a strong offseason.
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S Adrian Amos
4 of 5
Even though the Bears added veteran free safety Antrel Rolle in free agency earlier this offseason, Pace selected Penn State free safety Adrian Amos in the fifth round of this year's draft.
After making the selection, Pace praised Amos' 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 CBSChicago.com. "Just a high-character guy who’s extremely intelligent. Three-year starter and I like the versatility that he’s played multiple positions."
According to NFL.com, Amos ran a disappointing 4.56-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in February, but he ran a 4.37 40-yard dash at his pro day in March.
He does not have elite speed for the position, but he is a smooth athlete who shows great anticipation and closing speed. He had a strong showing in rookie minicamp earlier this month, and he impressed Pompei.
"Adrian Amos looks like he has potential to be an interceptor," Pompei tweeted. "He has range, length, and excellent hands. Made catches away from his body."
He has to prove he can be more physical against the run and will have to improve his tackling in order to compete for a starting role in 2015. Even though he has upside, he appears to be a long shot for one of the team's starting safety jobs this season.
"Amos is at best a reach to earn playing time right away and may very well end up as a cornerback or nickel rather than a safety," wrote Hub Arkush of ChicagoFootball.com.
He has good coverage skills and experience playing cornerback, and he could be in the running for the team's nickelback position with fellow safety Brock Vereen and 2014 nickelback Demontre Hurst.
If he does not earn the nickelback role this offseason, he will be asked to be a contributor on special teams in 2015.
RB Jeremy Langford
5 of 5
For the second year in a row, the Bears selected a running back in the fourth round of the draft. The team selected Arizona's Ka'Deem Carey in 2014, but he only had a limited role last season. In order to add competition to the position, Pace selected Jeremy Langford out of Michigan State earlier this month.
In his final two seasons at Michigan State, Langford rushed for 2,944 yards on 568 carries and scored 40 touchdowns. At the combine, his 4.42 40-yard dash was the fastest among all running backs, and he has the ability to break games open with his speed.
"Very productive, athletic. The standout trait with him is really his speed," Pace said about Langford, according to CBSChicago.com. "This guy has home run ability. He’s got upside, has played multiple positions so he’s still getting better as a running back. But this guy stands out and we’re excited to have him here."
He will compete with Carey and Jacquizz Rodgers to be the team's No. 2 running back behind Matt Forte this offseason, but Pompei was not overly impressed with Langford at the team's rookie minicamp.
"Nothing exceptional from Jeremy Langford, but he was taking what was there," Pompei tweeted. "Saw some slipperiness in tight quarters and quick feet."
It is difficult to get a good read on running backs in practice because of limited hitting, but Langford could provide a speed element to Chicago's running back corps this season. Carey is a bruising, between-the-tackles runner, while Langford is at his best when he can run outside of the tackles.
In addition to providing a speed element on offense, Langford could be a major contributor on special teams this season. He began his career at Michigan State as a defensive back, and he is not afraid to put a hit on someone.
"Positionally he has played on defense before, sometimes that comes into factor as far as fourth down or special teams," Fox said, according to Mike Griffith of MLive.com. "The guy has tackled somebody before; he's been in that kind of environment."
Langford has a chance to become a key contributor on offense this season behind Forte, but at worst, he should have a significant role on special teams.
Statistical information courtesy of Sports-Reference.com and NFL.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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