Flexibility a Code Word for Bears Line Plan
The next step to getting Justin Fields more help this season is the lineman or linemen they bring in during the draft, and then figuring out how they all fit.
They've pretty much finished with the receivers who will start, whether at wideout or tight end, and running back additions would be relegated to backups in the draft after signing free agent guard Nate Davis.
The line's makeup looks to be drastically different, regardless, because starting center Sam Mustipher hasn't been tendered an offer as a restricted free agent and right tackle Riley Reiff has left for New England.
Pro Football Focus had rated the Bears offensive line 14th best when last season ended, which seemed downright silly after they gave up a league-high 58 sacks. Still, they did show improvement and now they seem intent on tearing it all down and building it back up.
Already GM Ryan Poles said after signing free agents that the plan was to move Cody Whitehair to his original position. He will replace Mustipher. They brought in guard Nate Davis from Tennessee to start.
It's possible there could be even more movement, a lot more. Tackle Braxton Jones could move from left tackle to the right side if they drafted a left tackle who they felt was better, according to what coach Matt Eberflus told reporters at the owners meetings..
This one seems rather sketchy because it depends on some future move and Jones hasn't played right tackle in the NFL or started there in college. But remember, Jones was a fifth-round pick and not a first-rounder. Left tackle is generally regarded as the highest-paying position and one most important with a right-handed quarterback because his blind side is protected by that player.
A drafted left tackle in Round 1 logically could have higher priority at left tackle.
Social media tea leaf readers went crazy and took it a step beyond all of this supposition when they saw a workout Jones was having with backup guard Ja'Tyre Carter under the watch of former Bears center Olin Kreutz. They determined Jones was in a stance a right tackle would use. Actually, it looked like a left tackle stance properly executed, so this seemed like a stretch of the imagination.
However, the possibility exists Jones really could move based on what Eberflus said.
The other movement could be Teven Jenkins from right guard to left guard. The Tribune's Colleen Kane and Dan Wiederer and ESPN's Courtney Cronin have reported this is the move being made. They said it won't be Davis moving to left guard. Left guard is a position Davis has never once played for a snap in his 55 career games.
Jenkins' career so far has been one of changing positions and being unsettled or injured, so it's another challenge for him.
Drafted by another regime, he had a back injury right away, surgery, another unexplained injury at training camp, started at right guard and suddenly developed into a good player.
Then a neck injury ended his season last year and he's been available only 19 of a possible 34 games. Making matters worse, he returned from the neck injury for a start and then injured it again last season.
So dependability is something the Bears could look at even with a player ranked third overall by PFF for guards in the league last year. Jenkins, himself, wasn't so impressed at season's end with strides he made that he was willing to assume he'll play that position in 2023.
"I'm a guy who flashes a lot," he said. "I had some great plays. One thing I need to improve on is my consistency on the field. Like, I'll have great plays driving somebody like 10 yards or so, and the next play I might only do it for a yard or not be as great as the play before."
A player who hasn't cemented his position could only expect to be on the move.
Is it possible they would even move Jenkins out of the lineup or trade him? These are the type of rumors that start this time of year but they would need a kick from the draft for this to happen.
A drafted center and Whitehair or Jenkins at left guard might be a training camp situation if the draft fell a certain way.
Ironically, the Bears talk a great deal about how their line has to move together in this wide-zone blocking scheme to be effective. It seems in the offseason they're also moving a great deal.
And the end result could be their starting five players for 2023 are five different players than those who started in those positions during the bulk of last season.
Possibilities on the Line
2022
- LT Braxton Jones
- LG Cody Whitehair
- C Sam Mustipher
- RG Teven Jenkins
- RT Riley Reiff
2023???
- LT DRAFT PICK
- LG Teven Jenkins
- C Cody Whitehair
- RG Nate Davis
- RT Braxton Jones
Or 2023???
- LT DRAFT PICK
- LG Cody Whitehair
- C DRAFT PICK
- RG Nate Davis
- RT Braxton Jones
Or 2023???
- LT Braxton Jones
- LG Cody Whitehair
- C DRAFT PICK
- RG Nate Davis
- RT DRAFT PICK
Or 2023???
- LT Braxton Jones
- LG Teven Jenkins
- C Cody Whitehair
- RG Nate Davis
- RT DRAFT PICK
Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven
