Aug 8, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears outside linebacker Khaseem Greene (52) celebrates a fumble recovery during the second half of a preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Soldier Field. The Bears won 34-28. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago Bears GM Ryan Pace has quite a rebuilding project on his hands. In the next phase of our Chicago Bears Roster Review, we look at the players who are currently on the Bears roster. We’ll look back at their 2014 season and look ahead to how they might fit into the team’s plans in 2015.
Khaseem Greene, OLB, 26
2014 Review
2014 was a disappointing year from Khaseem Greene. Despite numerous injuries to the linebacker position over the course of the season, he only started two games for the Bears. Along with playing special teams the entire year, those two starts only saw Khaseem Greene produce 16 total tackles. Needless to say, most Bears fans expected more from the second year linebacker out of Rutgers. Year two is usually the year that sees the most improvement from players, but Khaseem Greene looked lost on most of the snaps he was called on to play.
Khaseem Greene showed flashes of brilliance as a rookie last season, including a 49 yard interception return. He started four games that year and made 28 total tackles to go along with a pass deflection and the aforementioned interception. I, like most Bears fans, find his apparent regression unsettling, but that doesn’t mean he can’t still turn his career around.
2015 Outlook
I’ve been frustrated so far with Khaseem Greene’s lack of development. He was a playmaker in college, and I thought he was an absolute steal when the Bears snagged him in the 4th round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Khaseem Greene will undoubtedly make a switch to inside linebacker in the Bears’ new 3-4 scheme this season, and we will have to see how well he fits in his new position. Competition will be fierce, and Greene is not a lock to make the roster. With incumbent starter Jonathan Bostic likely to remain in that role and the Free Agency acquisition of former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Mason Foster, starting this season is highly unlikely. Combine that with the extreme likelihood that the Bears will address the position at some point in the upcoming draft, and it looks like Khaseem Greene will have his work cut out for him in 2015.
What do you guys think? Can Khaseem Greene turn his career around? Will he even make the roster this season? Let me know in the Comments…