Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers: Five Players to Watch

Kyle Long, Offensive Line, CHI

Aug 14, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears guard Kyle Long (75) during the second quarter of the preseason game at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Alright, I may have cheated a little bit here. I said in the opening that I was not going to use an obvious player, and then I went ahead and selected a player who has been named to the Pro Bowl the last two seasons. However, he appears to be changing positions, so that has to count for something, right?

The position change is why Kyle Long will have a lot of my attention when the Bears have the ball on Sunday. Long being named the starting right tackle simply seems to be a formality at this point, as he is widely expected to replace the recently released Jordan Mills. Long has become one of the best interior offensive lineman in the NFL by dominating at the right guard position the last two years, but this will be a new test.

Despite his success on the interior, moving Long outside was a no-brainer. He has elite quickness and athleticism for an offensive lineman that has translated into impressive pass protection skills. Long has the body-type and footwork to play the tackle position, and if his transition goes smoothly, it immediately helps the entire Bears’ offensive line.

When it comes down to it, the Bears have to do a better job of protecting Cutler than they have in recent years. Long is far and away their best offensive lineman, and giving him more responsibility on the outside is a move that had to made. If Long can succeed, the Bears’ offense has a chance to be much better than expected. His transition begins on Sunday.

Next: An Important Former Bear