With free agency and the NFL draft completed, the core of the Chicago Bears 2015 roster is in place. There may be an undrafted player who makes the team via mini-camp, like RB Senorise Perry and CB Al Louis-Jean did last year, or a free agent signing of a cap casualty late in the preseason, but for the most part the roster is in place. Over the next few weeks I will be breaking down the Bears depth chart at every position.
The guard position was one of the few bright spots for the Bears last season. Kyle Long made his 2nd Pro Bowl in his second season and was the Bears best offensive player according to Pro Football Focus (12.1 grade). Matt Slauson was injured most of the season but payed well when healthy and back-up G/C Brain de la Puente had the 2nd highest grade among Bears O-linemen. Rookies Ryan Groy and Michael Ola also showed flashes of competence at guard in limited snaps.
Position Previews: QB | RB | WR | OT | OG
2015 Bears OG Depth Chart:
Starters
Kyle Long
As bad as Phil Emery was as a GM, at least he got one pick right. Kyle Long made the Pro Bowl again in 2014 giving him two Pro Bowl appearances in his first two years in the NFL. There were some offseason rumors about moving Long to tackle, but both Long and the Bears coaching staff have put a stop to that idea quickly. If it’s not broke why fix it. According to Pro Football Focus, Long was the 8th best right guard in the NFL and he improved both his run and pass blocking from his rookie year. It’s tempting to wonder how good Long would be if he had solid blockers on either side of him, but reuniting him with former Oregon teammate C Hroniss Grasu should improve the interior line at least. Long is an elite athlete for his position and the sky is the limit for how good Long can be this year and beyond.
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Matt Slauson
Only played 5 games last season due to an early season ankle injury and then a season-ending pectoral tear. Slauson played well in his limited snaps last year but was clearly hampered by injury when on the field. In 2013 Slauson was graded as the 4th best LG in the NFL according to PFF and should be 100% by week 1 of the 2015 season. The Long / Slauson combo has the potential to be the best guard pairing in the NFL. Slauson is tall for a guard (6’5), but fires off the line low enough to get good leverage as a run blocker and his height, strength, and long arms are assets in pass pro. He has only given up 4 sacks over the last 3 seasons. It wasn’t talked about much, but the loss of Slauson was a huge blow to the Bears O-line last season.