The unsung heroes of the Chicago Bears : the offensive line

The Chicago Bears offensive line are the underrated group of the team

It’s the same in every level of football. Your best players can only shine with a great offensive line in front of them. When things are going well you never notice the offensive line, but when things are going wrong you often can not look past them. Football as a game honors skilled positions, but those positions would get no where without the help of the offensive line.

The Chicago Bears offensive line protects Mitch Trubisky. Trubisky passed for 3,223 yards last year, that would not have happened if it was not for the O-Line. Tarik Cohen rushed for 444 yards last year, and scored 3 touchdowns, that too would not have happened if it was not for the offensive line.

So you get my point, the offensive line is important to an NFL team. If it wasn’t for Tom Brady’s offensive lines through the years protecting him he wouldn’t be playing at the age of 42. The offensive line is important in the NFL to team success. So let’s highlight some of the unsung heroes on the Chicago Bears O-Line going into Thursdays game against the Packers.

LT Charles Leno JR

Charles Leno Jr has played for the Bears since 2014. He has played in every game since the start of the 2015 season, and has become a staple on the offensive line. He was apart of the Pro Bowl in 2018. Leno will be back this year and should help keep Trubisky safe from his blind side.

LG Cody Whitehair

Cody Whitehair has played with the Bears since his draft year, 2016. He was playing center the last few seasons, but has now been moved to left guard. The Bears will need the pro bowler to adapt to his new position this season. Here is a clip of the linemen doing linemen things at this past years pro bowl.

C James Daniels

James Daniels is young! Last year was his first year in the NFL, where he started in 10 games. Daniels went to Iowa, and is just 21 years old. Daniels played last year as a left guard, but this year Daniels and Whitehair have switched positions.

James Daniels might be the youngest player on the O-line but he does have some football IQ. He had this to say about switching positions with Cody Whitehair.

The Bears culture is all about doing what is best for the team. Daniels embodies this with his integrity and humility in switching positions.

RG Kyle Long

Out of all the offensive linemen on the Bears right now Kyle Long might have the most jerseys in the crowd. The 30-year-old only played in 8 games last season, after suffering an injury midway through the year. However Long did come back for the playoff game against the Eagles.

Kyle Long is the leader of the offensive line. Long is the only first round draft pick, and has the age and amount of time in the league to be a leader.. Sometimes however he does get a little too into it, like when he got into a fight during practice this training camp.

RT Bobby Massie

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Bobby Massie has been with the Bears since 2016, before then he played for the Arizona Cardinals. Massie is a reliable right tackle, and has been apart of very good offensive lines in the past. In 2014 and 2015 the Cardinals gave up just 28 and 27 sacks, in large part thanks to Massie and the offensive line.

Massie will be back for his 8th year in the NFL, and he is chasing a super bowl with the Bears. Hopefully he can get it.

Conclusion

The Chicago Bears gave up just 33 sacks last season, which is in large part thanks to the offensive line. If the Bears want to have a successful run game, or pass game they will need these 5 players to be on top of their games. Of course there are some other players that deserved to be recognized like second stringer Ted Larson, but it all begins with the starters.

The Bears will be playing the Packers on Thursday night. We know how amazing the defense is, we got to witness a fun group of defenders sack and destroy opposing offenses. Now lets see the O-Line give Trubisky the time and space to beat the Packers.