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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.
I was tempted to combine DT/DE for this position preview since plenty of the Bears defensive linemen will play both inside and out, but I will focus on the players who will primarily play nose tackle. Jay Ratliff is a tough case, since he was projected to start at NT, but after the release of DE Ray McDonald he may end up starting at left DE. Whether Ratliff plays inside or out, the Bears will be relying on the Bears 2nd round picks the last two seasons, Ego Ferguson and Eddie Goldman. There may be a surprise contributor like 2nd year player Brandon Dunn or rookie Terry Williams (The Swamp Monster!) who was signed after the Bears rookie mini-camp. New Bears DC Vic Fangio had a knack for getting good play out of relatively unknown D-linemen with the Niners, but he will have his work cut out for him with this group.
Position Previews: QB | RB | WR | OT | OG | C | TE | DT
2015 Bears NT Depth Chart:
Potential Starters
Jay Ratliff
Lost in the Bears disastrous 5-11 season last year was the Pro Bowl caliber play of veteran DT Jay Ratliff. According to Pro Football Focus, Ratliff was the 6th best DT in the NFL last season with a 20.5 overall grade. He had 7 sacks in just 11 games including a 4 sack game against the Dolphins in which he was unblockable. Ratliff will be 34 years old by the time the season starts, so the Bears shouldn’t expect too much from Ratliff but he has the most experience in a 3-4 scheme on the defense. He made 4 consecutive Pro Bowls in a 3-4 scheme with the Cowboys (08-11), that Ratliff has said is very similar to Fangio’s scheme. It’s actually more of a 3-4 / 4-3 hybrid popularized by Wade Phillips on the Cowboys squads that Ratliff was a part of. The Bears need to be careful not to overwork Ratliff due to his advanced age and injury risk, but he should be able to make sure his D-linemates know what they are supposed to do. Ratliff also has the size and versatility to play either NT or LE and should spend plenty of time at both this season.