Projecting the 53-Man

[adam]

Right now I am thinking it will look something like this:

QB - Fields, Siemian (upgrade from last year)
RB - Montgomery, Herbert, Ebner, Blasingame, Evans (upgrade from last year)
WR - Mooney, Pringle, Jones, Sharpe, St. Brown, Newsome/Pettis/Webster/Coulter, (Harry - IR) (downgrade from last year)
TE - Kmet, Griffin, O'Shaughnessy (push)
OL - Reiff, Whitehair, Patrick, Schofield, Jenkins, Borom, Jones, Mustipher, Carter/Eiselen/Coleman (upgrade from last year)

So the only position group to get worse is the WRs. Now if Pringle and Jones look solid, that may change very quickly. Without ARob there is a drop off at the top, but I think the floor for the WRs is higher. The other groups are either equal to or better than last year, so the offense as a whole should be improved from last year.

DL - Blackson, Jones, Tonga, Edwards, Coley/Pennel  (downgrade from last year)
Edge - Quinn, Gipson, Muhammad, Robinson/Snowden  (downgrade from last year)
LB - Smith, Morrow, Adams, Sanborn, Thomas, Johnson   (upgrade from last year)
CB - Johnson, Gordon, Young, Vildor, Jackson/Shelley, (Graham - IR)  (upgrade from last year)
S - Jackson, Brisker, DHC, Cruikshank, Hicks  (upgrade from last year)

You can't lose Hicks and Mack and not have downgrades in those position groups. However, the LB Corps, CBs, and S's look better. So the defense should be very similar to last year's, if not slightly better.

K - Santos (push)
P - Gill  (upgrade from last year)
LS - Scales  (push)

On ST, we have a better punter, and the return game should at least be a push.

My assumption is if they go with Blasingame, they reduce the TE position by 1.  Roquan's situation will also impact the 53-man. If he is out, they would obviously carry a different LB in lieu of him. 

It looks like there are about 3 spots on offense undecided, WR6, RB/FB5/TE4, and OL9.

On defense, every position group's last spot seems to be up for grabs, DL5, Edge4, LB6, CB5, S5

That is 8 spots on the 53-man, which may include new players from other teams as they cut down the roster sizes.

If you take those undecided spots away, the team's 45-man roster would look like this:

QB - Fields, Siemian
RB - Montgomery, Herbert, Ebner, Blasingame, Evans
WR - Mooney, Pringle, Jones, Sharpe, St. Brown, Newsome/Pettis, (Harry - IR)
TE - Kmet, Griffin, O'Shaughnessy
OL - Reiff, Whitehair, Patrick, Schofield, Jenkins, Borom, Jones, Mustipher, Carter/Kramer

DL - Blackson, Jones, Tonga, Edwards, Coley/Pennel
Edge - Quinn, Gipson, Muhammad, Robinson/Snowden
LB - Smith, Morrow, Adams, Sanborn, Thomas, Johnson
CB - Johnson, Gordon, Young, Vildor, Jackson/Shelley, (Graham - IR)
S - Jackson, Brisker, DHC, Cruikshank, Hicks

K - Santos
P - Gill
LS - Scales

From the remaining names, the worst players on the roster are Mustipher and probably Vildor. What do you think? Both of those guys were starting last year and now are on the bottom of the 45-man.

On Special Teams, you need 9 players from Offense and Defense to fill out the 11. If you assume 7 of those names are not named yet, you only need 3-4 names from the 45 guys to fill out the special teams like Sanborn, Thomas, Cruikshank, and DHC. Then whoever ends up as RB5, WR6, DL5, Edge4, LB6, CB5, and S5 fill out your special teams. 

 

[adam]

I figured Newsome would be gone after the last game. So far, projection looks good.

[Stinger226]

No way they expose Robinson to other teams. Maybe a fake injury or something. I think Sanborn goes to the practice squad and also Hicks makes the final roster. 

[AZ54]

1 hour ago, Stinger226 said:

No way they expose Robinson to other teams. Maybe a fake injury or something. I think Sanborn goes to the practice squad and also Hicks makes the final roster. 

I'm thinking Sanborn makes the 53 primarily as a special teams player.  He's downfield and in on so many plays each game it's impossible not to notice him.  He might be a 4.7 guy but he's got to be running that all the time.  

After how he looked against the 9th overall pick I can't see them hiding Robinson on the practice squad.  I doubt they even want to.  From what we've seen with this coaching staff they are willing to accelerate the learning curve of talented rookies by giving them significant game and practice reps.  From Poles' viewpoint, Quinn isn't part of the Superbowl roadmap so you have to replace that production.  At such a key position, if this kid has a chance to be good Poles will want to know it before the next offseason.  Even if something else gets sacrificed they'll find a way to make it happen.  Robinson plays special teams too so that helps.  

Oline it's hard to say if we'll keep 8 or 9.  For depth we just need the 8 since Reiff and Schofield have position versatility.  I'm not sure if Carter has shown enough.  I don't see Eiselen making it as I rewatched the last game and he wasn't that good (struggled to anchor).  Zach Thomas has looked better recently and has likely surpassed Simmons to earn a PS spot.  

 

 

[Stinger226]

I think they can get by with 8. Schoefield can play either OG spot. Jenkins can play RT and Reiff can play both OT spots. 

[Mongo3451]

7 minutes ago, Stinger226 said:

I think they can get by with 8. Schoefield can play either OG spot. Jenkins can play RT and Reiff can play both OT spots. 

Me too. Especially since we can stash a couple on the PS.

[lemonej]

I think Schoefield gets cut because of how quickly he fell behind Jenkins who never played the position plus, when Patrick returns that frees up Mustipher for a dual role as backup center and guard with Carter and Thomas being Poles draft picks probably being kept on the original 53, that leaves one swing tackle position to fill ( Davenport)? Saturday is going to be a big day for a lot of fringe players.

[adam]

29 minutes ago, lemonej said:

I think Schoefield gets cut because of how quickly he fell behind Jenkins who never played the position plus, when Patrick returns that frees up Mustipher for a dual role as backup center and guard with Carter and Thomas being Poles draft picks probably being kept on the original 53, that leaves one swing tackle position to fill ( Davenport)? Saturday is going to be a big day for a lot of fringe players.

He may stick or he may be replaced by another player not currently on the roster. I assume they will stash some of the 7th rounders on the PS. 

[Stinger226]

He's here on the vet minimum, dont see Schofield getting cut for Carter when you have a young guy starting ahead of him. If they need the roster spot, they could get by with Musifer as backup at RG but he has never played the LG spot. Schofield can play either guard spots. Either Borom or Reiff are the starter or swing OT. Danvenport got cut. Coleman hassnt played well dont see him sticking around.  

[AZ54]

Jenkins has more position versatility as LT/RT, and probably better performance than Schofield.  I still give Schofield the edge to make the roster over the rookies but I think there is a small window of opportunity this weekend for the rookies to change that.    

[Mongo3451]

55 minutes ago, AZ54 said:

Jenkins has more position versatility as LT/RT, and probably better performance than Schofield.  I still give Schofield the edge to make the roster over the rookies but I think there is a small window of opportunity this weekend for the rookies to change that.    

No, no, hell no!

[AZ54]

42 minutes ago, Mongo3451 said:

No, no, hell no!

No to the rookies or you don't think we'd ever put Jenkins at RT if injuries caused us to have someone from game-day active roster finish out a a game?   Or do you just like Schofield at OT that much?  I haven't seen him play there but some of his struggles inside haven't given me a good feeling about seeing him on the outside.    

[Mongo3451]

28 minutes ago, AZ54 said:

No to the rookies or you don't think we'd ever put Jenkins at RT if injuries caused us to have someone from game-day active roster finish out a a game?   Or do you just like Schofield at OT that much?  I haven't seen him play there but some of his struggles inside haven't given me a good feeling about seeing him on the outside.    

What happened to Reiff?  I absolutely hate the idea of Jenkins ever playing RT, let alone LT. He belongs in the middle, period.  I apologize if I get a little passionate, but I've seen enough.

[AZ54]

1 hour ago, Mongo3451 said:

What happened to Reiff?  I absolutely hate the idea of Jenkins ever playing RT, let alone LT. He belongs in the middle, period.  I apologize if I get a little passionate, but I've seen enough.

All I said was Jenkins as a RG has at least as much versatility as Schofield to kick out to OT if needed, and probably more because no matter where he is, he is a better run blocker than Schofield.   That doesn't mean he's even the swing OT.   

If Schofield's best asset is as backup RG, 4th OT (RT), is that needed as much with Jenkins?   We have starters in Jones, Borom, and backup Reiff.  Schofield or Jenkins is the 4th OT.  If we keep both we have 4th/5th options.   It's hard to see how one of Carter or Zach Thomas are kept on the 53 when they can only play one spot.    Unless we keep 9 Oline.    

 

[Stinger226]

It appears to be the best 5 will be Jones-Whitehair-Patrick-Jenkins-Borom. A lot of youth there but with Patrick and Whitehair should stabilize the group. There will be mistakes but a group that has lots of room to grow. By midseason it will no longer be considered one of the worst groups in the league. They will emphasize the running game which is easy for a OL to gain confidence running over people. I think with a FB, 2 TE sets , the blocking will be enough to run an effective O. If Jenkins , Jones or Borom need more time , you have Schofield and Reiff to fall back on. If this group jells, 23-24-23 will give us a cheap OL for a several yrs to come. Last yr Poles was involved with the remaking of the OL in KC where Humphrey and Trey Smith started as rookies. That turned out well for KC. Poles said he knows the OL and in a couple of weeks we will find out. 

[Mongo3451]

9 hours ago, AZ54 said:

All I said was Jenkins as a RG has at least as much versatility as Schofield to kick out to OT if needed, and probably more because no matter where he is, he is a better run blocker than Schofield.   That doesn't mean he's even the swing OT.   

If Schofield's best asset is as backup RG, 4th OT (RT), is that needed as much with Jenkins?   We have starters in Jones, Borom, and backup Reiff.  Schofield or Jenkins is the 4th OT.  If we keep both we have 4th/5th options.   It's hard to see how one of Carter or Zach Thomas are kept on the 53 when they can only play one spot.    Unless we keep 9 Oline.    

 

My bad.  Read it wrong.

 

[AZ54]

On 8/16/2022 at 3:00 AM, adam said:

These are the players I see making the 53.  

QB  2 - Fields, Siemian   

RB  5 - Montgomery, Herbert, Ebner, Blasingame, Evans    I think we stay with the heavy reliance on the RB and keep 5.

WR 6 - Mooney, Pringle, Jones, Sharpe, St. Brown,     as for Pettis - I think he made the 53 tonight and, in part due to injuries with Jones and Pringle, we keep 6 to start the season.   

     Webster and Coulter to practice squad unless signed elsewhere (Harry - IR designated to return) 

TE  3 - Kmet, Griffin, O'Shaughnessy  (neither Griffin or O'Shaughnessy have impressed with their blocking.  I think we could be open to bringing in a FA if someone good gets cut). 

     Chase Allen to the practice squad

OL  8 - Jones, Whitehair, Patrick, Jenkins, Borom,  Reiff, Schofield, Mustipher. 

      Carter/Eiselen/Zach Thomas to practice squad 

DL  5 - Blackson, Jones, Tonga, Edwards, Coley

Edge 4 - Quinn, Gipson, Muhammad, Robinson...   and I think Edwards is a backup

      Snowden to practice squad but he's too slow and weak to be effective.  If I were Poles I'd be looking for other edge prospects for the practice squad.   

LB  6 - Smith, Morrow, Adams, Sanborn, Thomas, Johnson    I could see them keeping 5 since Adams has good position versatility.  Comes down to how they fill out the special teams.  

CB  5 - Johnson, Gordon, Young, Vildor, Jackson/Shelley, (Graham - IR)    I haven't seen anyone standout among the last names on the roster.  I think we'll keep 5 and if Graham is on IR i'm not sure who is next in line.  

S  4 - Jackson, Brisker, DHC, Cruikshank,     Hicks goes to practice squad.  He's not ready for the NFL and he doesn't have any special athletic traits but he's a good football player worth keeping around.  

Defense = 24

Offense =  24

Specialists = 3

That's 51... who are the next two?   Disagreements on the names listed?  Have I missed any obvious standouts?  Do we keep an extra Oline rookie, or are we going to the FA market to add depth at some spots?  For sure Poles will be watching that.    

 

[adam]

5 hours ago, AZ54 said:

That's 51... who are the next two?   Disagreements on the names listed?  Have I missed any obvious standouts?  Do we keep an extra Oline rookie, or are we going to the FA market to add depth at some spots?  For sure Poles will be watching that.    

I think it will come down to injuries, but if you are adding one more to offense, it would be Coulter-WR or Carter/Eiselen. On defense, I could see any one of Kamara-Edge, Gates-LB, Stroman-CB, and Hicks-S depending on what they need and/or injuries.

Weird to think the offense is more set than the defense but it seems that way for the last few roster spots.

[Stinger226]

6 hours ago, AZ54 said:

 

Totally agree with your selections. The extra 2 will depend on their ST ability. I think one will be a TE because of a lot of 2 TE sets and probably Hicks or Stomam  for STs spot. I think Evans ends up with an injury designation , worth keeping.

There is no way this group is bottom5 in the league. I would say bottom 10 may be a reach.

[adam]

22 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

Totally agree with your selections. The extra 2 will depend on their ST ability. I think one will be a TE because of a lot of 2 TE sets and probably Hicks or Stomam  for STs spot. I think Evans ends up with an injury designation , worth keeping.

There is no way this group is bottom5 in the league. I would say bottom 10 may be a reach.

There were 6 teams worse than the Bears last year. None of those teams did anything that would make me believe they would leapfrog the Bears. Then you have Seattle, Atlanta, and Washington all with one more win than the Bears. I could easily see the Bears better than all 3. Then you have an 8-9 Cleveland team w/o a QB and Minnesota both with 8 wins. I could see the Bears somewhere in the mix with those two teams between 7-9 wins.

[adam]

Current 53-man, after first waive of cuts (31 AUG):

QB: Fields, Siemian
RB: Montgomery, Herbert, Ebner, Blasingame, Tonges
TE: Kmet, Griffin, Wesco
WR: Mooney, St. Brown, Pringle, Jones, Pettis, Harry, Sharpe-IR
OT: Jones, Borom, Reiff
OG: Whitehair, Jenkins, Carter, Leatherwood (OT/OG?)
OC: Patrick, Mustipher

DE: Quinn, Muhammad, Gipson, Robinson, Kingsley
DT: Jones, Blackson, Pennel, Watts
LB: Smith, Morrow, Sanborn, Adams, Weatherford
CB: Johnson, Gordon, Vildor, Jackson, Jones, Blackwell
S: Jackson, Brisker, DHC, Cruikshank, Hicks

P: Gill
K: Santos
LS: Scales

[Mongo3451]

Weatherford played HS ball near me.  Went to Miami of OH as a free safety.

[McGowan]

I hope they consider having Weatherford and Jenkins as the guards and moving Whitehair to C. 

[scs787]

1 hour ago, McGowan said:

I hope they consider having Weatherford and Jenkins as the guards and moving Whitehair to C. 

I think Weatherford is a little too thin for the OL. Lol. I know you meant Leatherwood.  

 

Patrick was actually pretty darn good last year and Leatherwood was one of the worst lineman in the league. Leatherwood is gonna have to prove some things before the Bears even think about putting him in the lineup. 

[Mongo3451]

1 hour ago, scs787 said:

Leatherwood is gonna have to prove some things before the Bears even think about putting him in the lineup. 

When his draft comparable was Germain Ifedi, what's the worry?  🤣