There’s only one more week of survival remaining for the Chicago Bears roster. One more injury-less week and the preseason will be considered a success, having only lost last year’s seventh-round pick Marquess Wilson to an injury of significance. One more week.
Four positions to focus on tonight.
Backup Quarterback
Marc Trestman’s decision to move Jimmy Clausen into the backup role tonight means the organization has decide whom they’d like to win the spot. Both Trest and Emery have made no attempt to hide their excitement over Clausen since he auditioned for them a few months ago.
A few thoughts on this:
- Why play Cutler at all tonight? Jay will receive ample work next week against the Seattle Seahawks during the “dress rehearsal”. Wouldn’t it make sense to give his potential backup a few series behind a starting offensive line and with the weapons he might be tossing to in regular season action?
- Clausen’s biggest advantage over Jordan Palmer is Palmer won’t sign elsewhere. Bears can keep him close by without serious risk of losing him.
Third Wide Receiver
I’ve argued for months the Bears lack of depth at the wide receiver position is playing with fire and they’ve gone from relying upon an unproven 7th round draft pick who produced a whopping 2 catches a year ago to a collection of journeymen.
With Chris Williams feeling more like a speed specialist, Josh Morgan has an opportunity over the next three weeks to assume this role and his track record in the league would lead most to believe the job belongs to him.
According to Jim Miller on the preseason opener, three wides is the most utilized offensive formation in the NFL. He also said that night Jordan Lynch played Division III college football. So he could be very wrong.
Right Tackle
Does anybody know the actual status of Jordan Mills? I don’t. But I do know that when a player has surgery on a foot, especially an offensive lineman, then re-injures that foot, it’s not a good thing. And when that injury results in a walking boot I tend to expect the pain to linger.
The problem? Eben Britton, the backup plan, is also dealing with a nagging hamstring injury. The Tribune’s Rich Campbell reported Michael Ola is expected to start and one wonders if it’s not a realistic opportunity for Ola to find himself a position on the club’s roster come September.
Free Safety
It sure seems like some combination of Adrian Wilson and Ryan Mundy will be filling the team’s need at strong safety. But who will line up opposite them?
I said everything I needed to say about Chris Conte in THIS COLUMN FROM EARLIER IN THE WEEK. Conte needs to get on the field and contribute immediately if he’s going to be the opening day starter – the best case scenario for the Bears.
If Conte can’t go, do the Bears continue moving Mundy to an uncomfortable spot? Can Brock Vereen elevate his play? Danny McCray? Worth watching how the Bears handle the position throughout the initial fifteen minutes.
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