Health, depth will be critical
Bears look to shore up backup spots on offensive line, in secondary
The exceptions are tight end Trey Burton, who had sports hernia surgery, and wide receiver Anthony Miller, who had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder after suffering five or six dislocations during his rookie season.
Examining the depth chart during the team’s six-week break between the end of the offseason program and the beginning of training camp, the Bears look well-positioned if more injuries occur. Two positions have questions, one on each side of the ball.
On offense, can converted defensive lineman Rashaad Coward or recent signee T.J. Clemmings emerge as a reliable swing tackle? On defense, which cornerback will be anointed the third option on the outside behind starters Kyle Fuller and Prince Amukamara?
The Bears seemingly created a clear path to the swing tackle job for Coward by moving Bradley Sowell to tight end. But they created competition for Coward by signing Clemmings, a fourth-round pick of the Vikings in 2015 who has 32 career starts. Coward has worked at guard and tackle this offseason, and the Bears liked him enough to carry him on the 53-man roster all last season as a project.
“It’s not given to me,” Coward said. “I have to prove myself. (Moving Sowell) showed they trusted me enough to take that chance.”
Clemmings has more experience but is coming off a torn ACL that has prevented him from practicing this offseason. If Coward can handle the challenge when the pads go on in camp, he’ll be in a good position.
“He’s a very talented football player that is learning how to play offensive line, and every day he starts to understand things better and better,” offensive line coach Harry Hiestand said. “When you move over from defense … it takes you a while to experience all of the little (stuff ). ‘Oh, jeez, I see what you mean there.’ He will make the mistake, but the nice thing is he learns from his mistakes and he doesn’t repeat very many.”
Coward spent this spring focusing on details as he kept the big picture in mind. It’s a critical camp for him because he’s either going to be good enough for the job or it could be time to cut bait.
“All offseason I worked on the punch to become confident in that, so instead of grabbing guys, now I’m punching guys to get off the load,” Coward said. “And now (Hiestand) told me, day by day, just work on one thing to get better. (Tuesday) I worked my hands really well. (Wednesday) get my footwork right. I have to work on keeping that left toe straight so I won’t get beat inside.
“Simple, little things. He told me to remember the little details. If you get away from that, then you’re going to be all over the place.”
As for the cornerbacks, Kevin Toliver started one game last season in place of Amukamara and played 135 snaps, getting his feet wet as an undrafted rookie free agent. The Bears believe he has the traits to become a starting cornerback, and he’s focused on improving his off-man coverage after playing primarily press at LSU. He has good length at 6-foot-2, 192 pounds, and he put together a strong spring.
“I learned the speed is a lot different than in college and you have to focus more when you’re put there,” Toliver said of his rookie season. “That helped a lot. I am going to carry that over. It was just a learning curve for me. I like that I started in that (Buccaneers) game. Way faster than preseason. People are for real out there during the regular season.”
Toliver has become more dedicated to film study and understanding the tendencies of wide receivers. He’ll have competition. The Bears have been very impressed with Duke Shelley, the sixth-round pick from Kansas State who was drafted to eventually become the starting nickel corner.
Through the spring, Shelley showed the ability to play on the outside, setting up a good battle for a backup cornerback spot that could involve veteran nickel back Buster Skrine, though he’s considered a better fit on the inside. Toliver has his work cut out for him, and the Bears will be lucky if their starting cornerbacks are healthy for 31 of 32 combined games again this season.
“You can’t ever feel like you are established in this game, especially at the corner position,” Toliver said. “You can’t ever get complacent, so I just have to keep working. My job could be gone tomorrow if I come out with a bad day, so I just have to come out here and keep working every day.
“I don’t really look at the depth chart and all that. I just go out there and compete. I can’t think I made it.”
The Bears feel good about their depth across the board and realize it could be put to the test this season. Competition looms when camp arrives.