Chicago Bears Rookie Class Showing Early Promise

Jul 26, 2013; Bourbonnais, IL, USA; Chicago Bears linebackers Jonathan Bostic (57) and Khaseem Greene (60) drop back into coverage during training camp at Olivet Nazarene University. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Phil Emery’s first draft class still appears to be a big question mark, with a couple of picks already off the roster and a couple more on the bubble, but the Class of 2013 should put Bears fans at ease.  One thing that we learned from the Bears’ first preseason game is that the 2013 rookie class shows promise and might be able to contribute immediately.   Maybe Phil Emery gets it after all.  Let’s look at the Class of 2013 and see how they project.

1st Round – Kyle Long (Guard)

Long is expected to start at right guard by the time Week 1 rolls around.  He did not start the first preseason game, but took the most snaps among all Bears on offense.  He got plenty of reps and certainly looked like he belongs.  Considering the right tackle spot is a bit of a mess, some people including our own GM Mouser, think he should slide out to RT and let James Brown move inside to RG.  Either way, while Long is a little raw, he looks like the real deal.

2nd Round – Jon Bostic (Linebacker)

Perhaps no other rookie made as big of an impression as Bostic did in the first preseason game.  Starting at middle linebacker in the place of injured veteran DJ Williams, Bostic had an athletic interception and took it to the house for a 51-yard touchdown like a seasoned vet.

Bostic displayed great speed and pursuit in stringing a running play out to the sidelines.  In true rookie form, he also had a couple of lapses, where he seemed to overrun a play that he could have shut down for a loss and missed a chance to knock a receiver off his route on the Panthers’ first touchdown pass.  Bostic could stick as the starter with more performances like the first exhibition game.

4th Round – Khaseem Greene (Linebacker)

Greene showed very well in his time with the second team and on special teams.  He had a nice tackle for loss on defense and made a really nice special teams tackle.  I expect he’ll be a key contributor on special teams and I wouldn’t be too nervous if he ended up getting time on defense too.