Chicago Bears: 5 Quick Hits Ahead of Season Opener

The finishing touches are being put on the roster, so it’s time to put down some quick hit assessments on the Chicago Bears ahead of the season opener.

Certain positions haven’t been quite settled yet and there is still a decision to make a number of players regarding the PUP list, specifically Pernell McPhee. Much of what’s to come will be derived from that. Even so here are a few things to note about what’s come, what has been done and what should be done.

Coaches are handling Kevin White very well

Kevin White was as raw as a young receiver can be coming into 2016. He’d missed all of his rookie season because of a fractured shin and only played one year of Division I football at West Virginia. So the Bears knew they had to be careful with how they brought him along. For the first few games his snaps were managed and he saw limited action. They got him used to the speed, and then in the fourth preseason game they masterfully turned him loose to the tune of four catches for 57 yards, earning just the confidence boost he’ll need. By midseason he’ll be a big factor.

Dowell Loggains knows where his bread is buttered

Watching the first three games, Bears offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains has to know the clear facts. If he wants to have success this year, then it will be running the football. The last thing he wants is to put that offensive line in constant passing situations. Evidence shows it leads to bad things. They have a stable of solid running backs at their disposal and a group of lineman known for their athleticism and physicality. If they are going to keep Jay Cutler healthy, then Loggains must resist the urge to put the ball in the air too often.

It’s time to start Jonathan Bullard

Mitch Unrein is a dedicated, high-effort veteran whom the Bears coaches love. He’s a solid run defender too. That’s all well and good. Problem is he can’t do what Jonathan Bullard has done throughout the preseason. The rookie 3rd round pick has one of the most explosive first steps in recent memory. Opponents are having a hard time keeping him out of the backfield. He’s a defensive lineman who wreaks havoc regardless of situation, so how can the team not make him the starter alongside Eddie Goldman and Akiem Hicks? He’s earned that chance just based on tape.

Young linebackers offer bright vision of future

For the time being the fate of the Bears defense rests in the hands of veterans like Pernell McPhee, Willie Young, Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman. However, early glimpses have shown Ryan Pace may have the next wave already building. Leonard Floyd has loads of potential he’s flashed throughout preseason on the outside. The bigger surprise was Nick Kwiatkoski, who made up for lost time in the finale against Cleveland with some impressive flash plays. Those two could become cornerstones of the future in this defense if they progress as planned.

Cut Robbie Gould now

This is a painful statement to make but the NFL is a cruel business. Robbie Gould is done. Whatever edge he used to have in years past that made him one of the most accurate kickers in the game has left him. Too many kicks in recent months appear off target or are getting blocked. That never used to happen. He’s 34 and when kickers lose their juice at that age, it’s almost impossible to get it back. Do Chicago Bears fans a favor and don’t force them to watch his decline continue.

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