Bears Blitz

I understand that trying to put together the 53 man roster before training camp even kicks off is what some may call slightly premature, but it should provide an interesting look at who to watch closely throughout the hot summer months and if the rosters had to be filled out today, who would make it.

Offense:

Quarterbacks (3 ) – Jay Cutler, Caleb Hanie and Dan Lefevour

This spot is one of the easier selections. Cutler is the obvious No.1, Hanie is still learning but has had some time to study and should be servicable and Lefevour as the long term project.

Oddman out: Brett Basanez – It comes down to him or Lefevour and the Bears seemed really excited to snag him in the sixth round and lets be real… If Cutler and Hanie both go down, the Bears will bring in a veteran to fill that gap.

Running backs (3 ) – Matt Forte, Chester Taylor and Kahlil Bell

Forte and Taylor are locks. Forte is trying to rebound from a subpar sophomore year and Chester will be forcing the issue as he should be getting a good number of touches each game.

Bell should win the role of the third running back. He showed explosiveness and promise in limited chances last season and as long as he can develop into a dependable blocker.

Oddman out: Garrett Wolfe – He just couldn’t ever break through to be that change of pace back the Bears needed over the years. He is quick, but not quite quick enough in the long run.

Fullbacks (1 ) – Will Ta’ufo’ou

This is open to debate. It really comes down to if Martz thinks that Ta’ufo’ou can be that extra blocker he needs when Cutler goes back into a seven step drop or if he would rather keep another blocking tight end or another receiver.

Oddman out: Maybe Ta’ufo’ou

Tight Ends (3 ) – Greg Olsen, Brandan Manumaleuma and Kellen Davis

That’s right, one of the veteran cuts that seems to happen every year will be Desmond Clark. While I do not necessarily agree with it, Olsen has the most potential in terms of pass catching, Manumaleuma was just paid way to much money to not make the roster and Davis is the younger, cheaper option as the third stringer.

Odd man out: Dez Clark. A true Bear for the past seven years, the 33-year-old, 12-year veteran will only make the roster if Martz decides to not carry a fullback and elects to have only five receivers instead of six.

Wide Receivers (5 ) – Devin Hester, Devin Aromashodu, Johnny Knox, Earl Bennett and Juaquin Iglesias.

Hester, Aromashodu and Knox are all locks, plain and simple. Bennett should make the team after displaying the ability to consistently make difficult catches and pick up first downs.

Iglesias, a third round pick last season from Oklahoma, should earn the last spot over veteran Rashied Davis and undrafted free agent Freddie Barnes, based off of youth and draft status. Angelo has cut ties with third rounders before, but with there being no proven No. 1 receiver in Bears camp, Angelo and Lovie will want as many young options as they can muster.

Odd man out: Rashied Davis. The veteran just hasn’t been able to shake the drops over the past season or two

Offensive Tackle (4 ) – Chris Williams, Kevin Shaffer, Frank Omiyale and J’Marcus Webb

The Bears made these selections fairly easy as well. Williams will be the anchor at left tackle, covering Cutler’s blindside while it is projected that Omiyale will be moved from left guard to right tackle, which is a better fit for his skills according to the coaching staff.

Shaffer was more than a capable backup last season and even had a few starts near the end, once Orlando Pace was benched. Webb was the seventh round pick by the Bears but looks to have the frame (6’8″ and 335 lbs) and athleticism to be very good down the road. Plus, considering the Bears offensive line is not exactly what one would call stable, having as many options as possible is not a bad thing.

Oddman out: No one really. The Bears have a number of inexperienced offensive tackles that will be practices squad level players this season at best in Levi Horn and James Marten.

Offensive Guard (4 ) – Roberto Garza, Josh Beekman, Lance Louis and Johan Asiata

Garza is getting up there in age but his experience should allow him to tutor the other three on the roster. Beekman did a solid job the year before last at left guard and it shouldn’t be to much to expect another year learning has only made him better.

Louis was a practice squad player but another one of those gifted athletes that Lovie Smith and Jerry Angelo love so much that has the potential to be successful in the NFL. Asiata is a second year player out of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas who was on the Bears practice squad last season.

During minicamps in June, Asiata saw some reps with the first team and drew praise from O-line coach Mike Tice.

Oddman out: Vince Vance. A rookie out of Georgia who may make the practice squad with a good showing in camp, holds out hope for Bear fans that they may one day have a starting guard tandem of Lance Louis and Vince Vance.

Center (1 ) – Olin Kreutz

Kreutz is still the only real option at center this season. Beekman will probably be backing him up and is more than likely the future at center for the Bears once Kreutz is eventually let go.

Oddman out: Tim Walter. Rookie out of Colorado St… and that’s all I got on him.

Offensive Total = 24

Defense

Safety (5 ) – Major Wright, Chris Harris, Craig Steltz, Danieal Manning and Al Afalava

Both Wright and Harris our locks. Wright because he should be the future at free safety for the forseeable future and Harris because he is the only player with proven abilities.

Manning makes the roster, but one could argue that he does so more as a nickel corner more than a safety. Afalava makes it because he showed flashes of skill last season and the potential for more down the road and Steltz rounds them out with a smart, capable back up to both safety spots.

Oddman out: Josh Bullocks. A pick up from the New Orleans Saints a year ago, Bullocks rarely saw the field and was not overly effective when he did. So when in doubt, go with the youth in Afalava and Steltz.

Cornerbacks (5 ) – Charles Tillman, Zackary Bowman, D.J. Moore, Corey Graham and Tim Jennings

Again, Tillman and Bowman are locks after being the starters last season. Graham should make the team as well. After showing some skills as a rookie, he seemed to take a step back last season, receiving less playing time and doing significantly less when he was given the opprotunity but the skill set is there.

D.J. Moore is another second year player that Lovie and Rod Marinelli will want to try and get the most out of.

Which leaves Tim Jennings filling in the final corner spot. Now why you might ask? Because of one simple reason: Special teams.

The Bears already parted ways with Adrian Peterson, who was a great special team player and looks to be parting with Rashied Davis and Garrett Wolfe, who both were key players on that unit.

Jennings has spent five seasons in the NFL, the first four with the Indianapolis Colts. While not an overwhelming player, he knows his role and is a solid tackler, which is sometimes missing from Bear players recently.

Oddman out: Joshua Moore. The rookie out of Kansas St should be a Bear still as they should sign him to the practice squad, providing that he doesn’t beat out Jennings for that fifth corner spot.

Linebackers (6 ) – Lance Briggs, Brian Urlacher, Pisa Tinoisamoa, Nick Roach, Hunter Hillenmeyer and Tim Shaw

Now with the linebackers, the top five spots are set, the only question really is whether Tinoisamoa or Roach will be the third starter next to Briggs and Urlacher. Regardless, Hillenmeyer is a sloid reserve to Urlacher and Tim Shaw should be the top special teamer again this season.

Oddman out: Kevin Malast. A second year player out of Rutgers could be a decent special teamer and maybe even a capable back up if he was on another team with a less stacked linebacker corps.

Defensive Ends (4 ) – Julius Peppers, Mark Anderson, Corey Wootten and Henry Melton

The Bears are a little thin at the defensive end position. Peppers will be the main staple on the unit with Mark Anderson starting on the other side, who needs to finally resort back to his rookie form.

Wootten was a fourth round pick out of the University of Northwestern and was supposed to be one of the steals of the draft. Wootten suffered an injury at the end of his junior year of college and had rushed back for his senior season, which produced a subpar year. If he can gain back some explosiveness, he should be a solid contributor.

Melton was a fourth round pick last season and spent the season on injured reserve, which allowed him to learn on the bench. Hopefully, with the Bears being so slim at the defensive end position, Melton can come in and make an impact.

Oddman out: Barry Turner. An undrafted free agent rookie from Nebraska.

Defensive Tackle (5 ) – Tommie Harris, Marcus Harrison, Anthony Adams, Israel Idonije and Jarron Gilbert.

Harris and Adams should be the starters again this year with both Harrison and converted DE Israel Idonije seeing a lot of time in the rotation. Gilbert was a rookie last season and while he saw very little playing time throughout the year, he should see more time in the rotation.

Oddman out: Matt Toeaina. “Big Toe” has been on and off the Bears active roster for the past two years. It is really to bad because when he sees the field, he does a pretty good job.

Defensive total = 25

Special teams:

Punter (1 ) – Brad Maynard, Kicker (1 ) – Robbie Gould, Long Snapper (1 ) – Patrick Mannelly

I grouped these three players together because honestly, they are in no real danger of being replaced. While Maynard is getting older, he can still drop the ball inside the 20 yard line better than most.

That puts it at 52 players…the question then becomes, what player takes that final roster spot? Clark? Rashied? Freddie Barnes? Bullocks?