Few position groups offer more optimism for the Chicago Bears, nor will play a more vital role in the franchise’s surging expectations in head coach Ben Johnson’s first season than a completely revamped offensive line.
However, for as many reasons as the Bears have to be optimistic that newcomers Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson, and Drew Dalman will significantly elevate the offense and help boost quarterback Caleb Williams’ development, chemistry and cohesion doesn’t always happen overnight.
There is little reason to think that in the long run, the Bears’ offense could be among the most improved in the league; it just might take some time. It might also take some time to sort out exactly who will be starting, and starting where.
Ben Johnson isn’t handing out jobs to Chicago Bears offensive linemen
During the Bears’ rookie minicamp, Johnson addressed the notion of the depth chart being set while trying to temper some expectations for the group as a whole as the offseason program ramps up.
“We’ve been focused particularly in that room about our fundamentals,” Johnson told reporters. “I really don’t want to get too much into depth of what that personnel’s going to look like. We just simply don’t know. We’ll find that out when we get pads on. You can’t climb the depth chart in the springtime, particularly on O-line and D-line if we don’t have the pads on.”
Obviously, the coaching staff will be able to make significantly stronger evaluations of both lines of scrimmage once the pads go on and contact ramps up during training camp later this summer.
Overall, though, Johnson says that in the weeks ahead there’s going to be significant time dedicated to getting the staff and players on the same page schematically rather than awarding position-battle wins.
“We’re not earning jobs here this springtime,” Johnson told said. “[Offensively], we’re still trying to comprehend this system. We’ve taught a big-picture view really over the last few weeks. We haven’t even formally installed a specific play in a formation all at once yet. We’ll do that once we get to OTAs. There’s a lot that’s going on in everyone’s head right now.”
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