53-Man Roster, Premature Speculation

In the Signed UDFA thread, someone asked if anyone had gone over the roster and speculated about the final 53. Ra’s al Ghul said, “Not yet, but expect multiple threads about it.” I figured I’d kick things off.

This is obviously really premature. Some free agents will be brought in, and some people will unexpectedly emerge in camp. But it shows where some of the camp battles might happen. Plus, it’s the offseason and everything is speculation at this point.

Last year, they went into the season with a split of 24 Offense, 25 Defense and 4 Special Teams. I took Hester’s spot and gave it to the defensive line. Emery has said that they should have gone into last season with one more lineman (and reiterated that this weekend when he said that in today’s NFL, you need 10), so I moved that from 9 to 10.

They also went into last season with 9 offensive linemen. The emergence of Boggs made them keep an extra. With de la Puente on the roster, they should be able to drop back to 8. I gave that extra spot to QB, so they can keep Fales.


Quarterbacks (3)
Jay Cutler
Jordan Palmer
David Fales

Cuts: Jerrod Johnson
Notes: Palmer worked with Fales pre-draft and is a good teacher, so I think he sticks as a mentor for Fales and a vet backup. I don’t know that they would trust Fales at the number 2 spot, but they might not want to risk putting him through waivers and putting him on the practice squad.


Running Backs (4)
Matt Forté
Ka'Deem Carey
Michael Ford
Tony Fiammetta (FB)

Cuts: Willie Carter, Shaun Draughn, Jordan Lynch


Wide Receivers (6)
Brandon Marshall
Alshon Jeffery
Marquess Wilson
Chris Williams
Eric Weems
Josh Morgan

Cuts: Josh Bellamy, Terrence Toliver


Tight Ends (3)
Martellus Bennett
Dante Rosario
Fendi Onobun or Zach Miller

Cuts: Matthew Mulligan


Offensive Linemen (8)
Jermon Bushrod (T)
Matt Slauson (G)
Roberto Garza (C)
Kyle Long (G)
Jordan Mills (T)
Eben Britton (G/T)
Brian de la Puente (C)
Charles Leno, Jr. (G/T) or James Brown (G/T)

Cuts: Taylor Boggs, Cody Booth, James Dunbar, Rogers Gaines, Ryan Groy, Joe Long


Defensive Linemen (10)
Jared Allen (DE)
David Bass (DE)
Willie Young (DE)
Lamarr Houston (DE/DT)
Cornelius Washington (DE/DT) or Israel Idonije (DE/DT)
Stephen Paea (NT)
Ego Ferguson (NT)
Jeremiah Ratliff (NT/DT)
Will Sutton (DT)
Nate Collins (DT)

Cuts: Brandon Dunn, Austen Lane, Lee Pegues, Tracy Robertson, Trevor Scott
Notes: I think the ends split easily into two groups. The guys listed as “DE” are the ones I would expect to line up at RDE in the base package and play either DE spot in the nickel. The guys listed as “DE/DT” are the ones who can two-gap from the end position and move inside. I’d expect to see them at LDE in the base and at DT in the nickel.


Linebackers (6)
Lance Briggs
Jon Bostic
Shea McClellin
D. J. Williams
Khaseem Greene
Christian Jones or Jordan Senn

Cuts: Jerry Franklin, Devekeyan Lattimore, Tana Patrick, Lawrence Wilson
Notes: If Christian Jones proves that he can play special teams, I think he gets the nod over Senn based on potential. I didn’t bother with Will/Mike/Sam designations because most of these guys can play multiple spots, anyway.


Defensive Backs (10)
Charles Tillman (CB)
Tim Jennings (CB)
Kyle Fuller (CB)
Isaiah Frey (CB)
Kelvin Hayden (CB)
Sherrick McManis (CB) or C.J. Wilson (CB)
Ryan Mundy (S)
Chris Conte (S)
Brock Vereen (S)
Craig Steltz (S)

Cuts: Sean Cattouse, Demontre Hurst, M. D. Jennings, Derrick Martin, Danny McCray, Derricus Purdy
Notes: I went with the same 6/4 split they used last season. I refuse to cut Craig Steltz. That's my homie.


Special teams (3)
Robbie Gould K
Pat O'Donnell P
Brandon Hartson (LS) or Chad Rempel (LS)

Cuts: Drew Butler, Tress Way
Notes: I have complete faith that Mannelly will come back, but he’s not currently on the roster, so I couldn’t include him.

SO MANY REACH AROUNDS, I MEAN REACHES!!!

I literally have no idea about the UDFA and everyone seems to really like the Jones pick up, but from my comfy Armchair with GM hat on I liked the videos I saw of Lattimore and also, I thought the coaching staff liked C.J Wilson too, so hopefully there is some good comp. in camp.

Other than that, thanks WCL, I'm sure the angry mob with pitchforks will be along soon to shout at you and stuff. Good stuff though!

(srs)

Nick80 said:

SO MANY REACH AROUNDS, I MEAN REACHES!!!

I literally have no idea about the UDFA and everyone seems to really like the Jones pick up, but from my comfy Armchair with GM hat on I liked the videos I saw of Lattimore and also, I thought the coaching staff liked C.J Wilson too, so hopefully there is some good comp. in camp.

Other than that, thanks WCL, I'm sure the angry mob with pitchforks will be along soon to shout at you and stuff. Good stuff though!

(srs)

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Thanks. I also know very little about the UDFAs, except for Jones. It's all guesswork.

Yeah, I'd like to see Wilson make the team. I'm gonna move him up.

Are we gonna have to have a separate Lattimore vs Jones forum? Jones was rated so much higher going into the draft, I'm gonna keep them separated (even though, they both went undrafted, so they're probably a lot closer in talent than I suspect).

Trestman has demonstrated an high amount of interest in using Jordan Lynch to add a lot of wrinkles to the Bears offense, think an Antwaan Randle El who can actually throw an NFL pass. I think it's safe to say that Michael Ford is a marked man as of now.

Am I the only that is worried who is going to return punts and kicks if Ford gets cut? And I have a feeling Lynch might actually make it as a RB if he also decides to play ST.

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Zach Miller will make the team. Onobun can't catch a cold.

I think Greene's spot is in jeopardy.

modo said:

I think Greene's spot is in jeopardy.

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If he shows up in poor shape it very well could be, although I think the Bears preference would be to avoid cutting him after just a year.

modo said:

Zach Miller will make the team. Onobun can't catch a cold.

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You know this is the Zach Miller from the Jags and Bucs, right? It's not the one from the Raiders and Seahawks.

I agree about Onion Buns. Is there anything at all on the free agent market?

WCL said:

You know this is the Zach Miller from the Jags and Bucs, right? It's not the one from the Raiders and Seahawks.

I agree about Onion Buns. Is there anything at all on the free agent market?

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Way too early to pencil in "Cinibuns" to a TE slot. I am starting to suspect that he just is not a football player....hands and head might never "get there."

Very realistic. Good look. That's an athletic roster, the defense has considerably more depth than in 2013, and Trestman might have even MORE offensive weapons to play with this year (Carey, Wilson, Williams, Lynch). Not a terribly old roster, either. 2014 could be a good year. Also, fuck the Packers.

pretty much agree with the list of cuts, last S, WR and RB spots will be the most interesting competitions in the camp

Svic said:

Am I the only that is worried who is going to return punts and kicks if Ford gets cut? And I have a feeling Lynch might actually make it as a RB if he also decides to play ST.

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I think chris williams will end up as the primary return guy

Spear said:

I think chris williams will end up as the primary return guy

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The Bears also don't have a WR like him. Everyone else is a big or really big body without a lot of quick-twitch.

yeah, i was the guy asking about the 53-man roster. this looks really good. i don't really see much to disagree with here. i doubt we roll with 2 tes, so 3 is probably right. i do think Ford is in jeopardy. williams over weems, he's our new return guy. i think jones over senn.

Izzy isn't listed, although I think he might be a camp casualty.


Edit - NVM, I saw what you did there ...

Crazy to look at our defensive line from last year to this year. The D line looks like a strength in only one off season. Fucking Emery is the man.

Svic said:

Am I the only that is worried who is going to return punts and kicks if Ford gets cut? And I have a feeling Lynch might actually make it as a RB if he also decides to play ST.

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You're probably the only one since we have Hixon,Weems and C.Williams that can all do KR/PR. I'm really rooting for the Williams kid to make our #6 WR and do KR/PR

DB Cooper said:

Crazy to look at our defensive line from last year to this year. The D line looks like a strength in only one off season. Fucking Emery is the man.

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Offensive line fixed in one offseason. Defensive line fixed in one offseason?

Aside from the an early stumble or two in his first year as GM, Emery has been really impressive as GM of the Bears. If he keeps putting teams like this together, we'll be one of those teams that is ALWAYS in the hunt.