Chicago Bears 2011-12 Season Breakdown: Cornerback Position
Published by Jake Perper on February 11, 2012
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
2011 was a solid season for the Bears cornerbacks, at least for the most part.
The cornerbacks as a whole posted 12 interceptions. D.J. Moore led the way with four interceptions.
Charles Tillman had three, while forcing four fumbles. He has been one of the most consistent ball strippers in the NFL.
He now has 28 in nine years in the league.
The question right now for the Bears is about Tim Jennings. Do they value him enough as a starter across from Tillman?
D.J. Moore will be back and healthy as a nickelback and Zackary Bowman will likely be on his way out.
But do the Bears want to sign both Tim Jennings and Corey Graham, or just one of them.
It will be interesting to see how much they invest in the two players if they decide to bring them both back.
Either way the position should be upgraded or infiltrated with youth this offseason.
The draft will likely be the place where the Bears find a young cornerback prospect to bulk up the depth.
Where they Stand
He started all 16 games, reeling in three interceptions, two which were returned for touchdowns, and four forced fumbles. He also posted a career high 99 tackles.
He has been one of the steadiest players on the defense for the Bears, especially in the secondary. He will be one of the starters at cornerback to start the 2012 season.
He started 15 games, making a career high 77 tackles, while reeling in two interceptions and forcing one fumble. He was one of the best tacklers for the Bears this season, but he missed on a lot of possible interceptions.
He should be signed back on a reasonable deal considering how consistent he is in the Cover 2 defense. Look for him to project into the starting lineup across from Charles Tillman next season.
He appeared in 13 games, making 44 tackles and four interceptions. He battled through injuries, but was always a playmaker at the nickelback position.
Despite being an undersized corner, he can keep up with some of the fastest receivers because of his speed. He will be the starting nickelback going into next season.
He appeared in all 16 games, making 17 tackles and three interceptions. He was voted to the Pro Bowl as a special teams player. He contributed on defense, when D.J. Moore was out of the lineup. Graham re-signed last offseason on a one-year deal, but is looking for the opportunity to get a regular role on defense.
He could find some teams that really want his services because of his performance on defense this past season. The Bears would love to have him back, but who knows how much they are willing to pay him. However, if he returns, look for him to compete for the starting nickelback position.
He appeared in all 16 games, racking up 15 tackles. He made one start in Week 17 against the Green Bay Packers. In that game he was burned numerous times by Jordy Nelson and Greg Jennings.
The Bears likely won’t bring back Bowman, a guy who once reeled in six interceptions as a starter in 2009. He won’t generate much attention in the free-agent market.
Signed a reserve/future contract with the team on Jan. 6. Spent the 2011 season on both Pittsburgh and Detroit‘s practice squad.
He should be considered a long shot to make the team, but could earn a roster spot through special teams.
Chicago’s free agents: Jennings, Graham, Bowman
Targets in Free Agency/Draft:
–Terrell Thomas, New York Giants, UFA
-Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama, first-round projection
-Truamine Johnson, Montana, second-third round projection
-Shaun Prater, Iowa, third-fourth round projection
Why Johnson Makes Sense to Draft
The 6’2″ cornerback racked up 44 tackles, one sack, one interception and 11 pass breakups. He makes sense because he has a lot of size that could translate well to the next level, plus he could be a possible replacement for Charles Tillman down the road.
Would the Bears invest a second- or third-rounder in a cornerback? I think they would because they realize the lack of depth and size at the position currently. Plus the unit isn’t getting any younger.
The draft is filled with tons of young talent at the cornerback position and Bears GM Phil Emery could hit on one or even two young prospects if he does his research.
Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. He is also the Chicago Bears writer for NFLTouchdown.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Bears.
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