Q & A with Chicago Bears reporter Sean Hammond on the progress of Doug Kramer

Doug Kramer is trying to go from an Illinois football stalwart to a mainstay with the Chicago Bears.

With the Illini, Kramer started in 48 games at center and was one of the few consistencies in Champaign. His play on the field piqued the interest of the Bears, and that is why they would select him with pick No. 207 in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Since joining the Chicago franchise, Kramer seems to have made quite the impact, but I wanted to get a better idea of what Kramer looked like on the field. So, I picked the brain of Sean Hammond, who covers the Bears for various Shaw Local News media outlets.

Here is how former Illinois football center Doug Kramer is doing with the Chicago Bears and what his future might hold.

Writing Illini – Through your reporting, I know that Bears starting center Lucas Patrick is banged up right now. You also reported that Doug Kramer was getting snaps after Patrick went down with an injury. What are your first impressions of how Kramer has done replacing Patrick?

Sean Hammond – For a rookie sixth-round draft pick, Kramer has done an excellent job stepping in at center. He has split reps with the first-team offense with veteran center Sam Mustipher. The Bears drafted four rookie linemen and are giving each of them significant reps during training camp. Nearly everyone has played with the first-team offense at one point or another.

“The Bears are looking for lighter, quicker, offensive linemen. Kramer might fit that mold.”

Kramer has done a good job picking up the playbook. His snaps have been pretty consistent except for maybe one or two here and there. Getting linemen into the second level of the defense will be a huge part of the Bears’ new run-blocking scheme, and Matt Eberflus noted that is one area Kramer needs to keep improving.

Writing Illini – What are some of the strengths and weaknesses of Kramer’s game so far at the NFL level?

• Hammond – His size – 6-foot-2, 300-pounds – would typically be something that works against him, but center is one of the few positions on that offensive line that can come in various shapes and sizes. I think it’s a little bit overblown. The Bears are looking for lighter, quicker, offensive linemen. Kramer might fit that mold.
• His football knowledge and ability to pick up the playbook quickly is one of his biggest strengths. Kramer is someone who played a million snaps in college. He has seen a lot of high-level football for a rookie.

Writing Illini – Being called upon early is tough for a rookie. Do you see Kramer as a viable second-string option for the bears heading into the 2022 campaign?

• Hammond – If everyone is healthy and Patrick is starting at center, I think Mustipher is the first player off the bench at either guard spot or center. He has experience and can play multiple positions. In the NFL, where there are limited roster spots, that is incredibly valuable. Kramer has played only at center, so he doesn’t provide the same versatility as Mustipher.
• If Patrick is healthy, Kramer could be destined for the practice squad. If Patrick winds up on the injured reserve to being the season, Kramer will definitely make the 53-man roster.

Writing Illini – If this injury (Patrick) does linger, is there a chance we see Kramer starting at center in week one?

• SH – I suspect Patrick will be back toward the start of the season. We don’t know the specifics of the injury, but a typical thumb injury could likely mean four-to-eight weeks. Even if he’s unable to play in week one, I suspect he will miss only a few weeks of the regular season.
• But, again, this is all guesswork. I lean toward the team starting Mustipher at center if Patrick is out, simply because he has more experience. That being said, it wouldn’t shock me if Kramer steps up and wins the job because the new front office liked him enough to draft him. Kramer is still the underdog in this position battle, though.