Michael Ola Days Until Chicago Bears Season Opener
The Bear Goggles On Countdown to Kickoff series continues with a profile of offensive lineman, #70 Michael Ola. The significance of #70 is of course because we are now 70 days away from the Bears kicking it off against the Packers. That’s only 10 weeks! It will be here before you know it, but meanwhile read up on Michael Ola for our take on where he’ll find himself come September.
Michael Ola played football while attending Hampton University and in a coincidental nod to Discovery Channel’s annual Shark Week, which begins today, he actually started his professional career with the Jacksonville Sharks of the Arena League in 2012.
From there Ola’s odyssey took him north of the border where he hitched up with former Bears HC Marc Trestman, who was then coaching the Montreal Alouettes. After two seasons in the CFL Ola got his crack in the NFL in 2014; after a cup of coffee with the Dolphins, Ola signed with the Bears in May of 2014.
Ola was brought in to provide competition and depth along the offensive line, but due to injury he was quickly thrown into the fire. Ola started weeks 2, 3 and 4 at LG when starter Matt Slauson was sidelined and then upon Slauson’s return in week 5, Ola then jumped out to LT for the injured Jermon Bushrod and started the next two games there. In total Ola started 12 games on the offensive line for the Bears in 2014, 7 at LG, 2 at LT and 3 at RT.
What to expect from Ola in 2015
Ola isn’t currently slated to be a starter, but with the versatility he displayed in 2014 and a new coaching staff with a new scheme in place, the opportunity is there for him to seize a starting role. RT seems the best opportunity for him and the Bears roster currently lists him as a tackle. Jordan Mills has been the starter there but figures to be pushed this year, either by Ola or even with the possibility of Kyle Long moving out to tackle.
However it shakes out it stands to reason that Ola will make at least a spot start somewhere as keeping an offensive line healthy throughout an NFL season is a difficult proposition. Ola is a valuable reserve and I expect he’ll be on the 53-man roster in September, thanks in large part to his versatility.
Next: Bears 10 Most Important Players for 2015