Chicago Bears: Five Most Important Offensive Backups
By Andrew Poole
Dec 21, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears guard
Michael Ola(70) against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field. The Lions defeated the Bears 20-14. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Michael Ola, Guard/Tackle
There are a couple of directions you could go with for the most important reserve offensive lineman, but I’m going with Michael Ola, who started 12 games in 2014. That in and of itself gives him credibility as the best backup behind the line of Jermon Bushrod, Matt Slauson, Hroniss Grasu, Will Montgomery and Kyle Long.
But check out the variety of where Ola started: Six games at left guard, two at left tackle, three at right tackle, one at right guard. About the only spot I couldn’t see Ola playing is center, where, if Grassu is hurt or struggles as a rookie, Montgomery will slide over to his old position.
Ola has a great chance at not just being the swing tackles, but the swing lineman, the guy who goes in at just about any position, no matter who is injured.
His primary competition is Jordan Mills, the former starting right tackle who also played some guard last year, and fellow swing lineman Charles Leno, but I’m going with Ola given the fact that Mills has played poorly to the extent where he’s no longer starting in our lineup, and Ola has more starting experience than Leno.
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