Thread: Final Roster Prediction

Originally Posted by WindyCity

QB [3]: Cutler, Hanie, Enderle

No surprises here.

RB [4]: Forte, Barber, Bell, Eddie Williams

Taylor will not make the roster even if Barber gets hurt because he will have his contract guaranteed if he stays.

WR [6]: Hester, R. Williams, Bennett, Knox, Hurd, Sanzenbacher

I think it will be interesting to see what happens between Sanzenbacher and Kris Adams.

TE [4] Davis, Spaeth, Clark, Adams

Adam seems to be a special teams lock.

OT [4] Webb, Carimi, Omiyale

OG [4] Williams, Louis, E Williams

C [2]: Garza, Spencer

The OL needs to keep some young players like E. Williams or Horn who can develop.

DE [4]: Peppers, Idonidje, Wootton, Addison

No surprises, but Addison needs to make the team will Wootton is healthy.

DT [5]: Melton, Adams, Toenia, Okoye, Paea

This is a deep group and should provide the rotation that is needed. I am a little disappointed with Paea who is making it because he is a 2nd round pick.

LB [6]: Urlacher, Briggs, Roach, Iwuh, Thomas, Free Agent

This group has surprising depth as Iwuh has really stepped up. I think they will sign a free agent special teamer like Shaw from a couple of years ago.

CB [6]: Tillman, Jennings, D.J Moore, Bowman, J. Moore, Graham

The Bears are almost forced to keep 6 CBs and that is okay as I think that some of these players can play safety in a pinch.

S [4]: Wright, Harris, Conte, Steltz

Nothing out of the ordinary solid group and I have been impressed with Conte.

LS: Mannely
K: Gould
P: Podlesh

You've listed 55 positions, though only 53 players (you show 4 OT's and 4 OG's, but only name 3 at each position).

I don't necessarily agree with all of the names/numbers.

I don't think we sign a FA LB, we will keep Decicco.
We won't keep 4 TE's, Clark will be out (wish he wasn't). We should get a FA CB, but we won't.
We might just keep Nick Reed over Addison. We could keep both, but at the expense of the 4th TE.

Originally Posted by GermansbombedPH

I still think we will resign Tinoisamoa. He knows the team and would be solid for depth

If he's healthy by the beginning of October you may well be right but until then we need another vet LB. Sure wish we hadn't cut Tim Shaw last year. We lost a ST monster and a good backup MLB when we did that. Ok, now for the roster.

The differences I see are as follows:

FB: I'd take "Tofu" over Eddie Williams if we keep a true FB

TE: Unless he plays FB/HB or Des is still injured I don't think Adams makes it. If they do keep 4 TE's the fourth should be Andre Smith

DE: It may be a toss up but I would keep Reed over Addison. He a more developed rush man right now.

LB: Unless it is Tim Shaw (we should be so lucky) I'm guessing the keep DeCicco. I think Lovie sees a lot of a young Hilly in the guy.

DB: Josh Moore is the guy on the bubble here IMO. If we can find CB or CB/FS help I'm betting he's the guy who'll be gone.

Like I said, a bit different Windy but not that much. The real question marks to me revolve around who backs up in the Oline and the number of TE's we keep. Other than that the players and numbers at the other positions look right.

Well here's Biggs to report on who looks like there on the bubble machine.




Whose bubbles will burst Thursday?


Watch closely for several new Bears to make definitive case for roster spot


Comments


Bears quarterback Nathan Enderle before the game against the Titans at LP Field. (Jim Brown-US PRESSWIRE, US PRESSWIRE / August 27, 2011)



Poll: Vote: D-line or O-line ... which group needs an extra body?



By Brad Biggs, Tribune reporter 11:32 p.m. CDT, August 31, 2011


It doesn't happen very often, but every once in a while a player on the bubble can secure a roster spot with a performance in the final exhibition.

Typically, minds are made up before the last game. The final cut to 53 is a little more than a few candid discussions between the closure of preseason and preparation for the real thing. But one veteran player said Wednesday it has been quite a while since there have been several clearly open spots at the bottom of the roster that new faces can claim.

Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli told an interesting tale of Corey Smith, the former defensive end who drowned at sea in 2009 after a seven-year career. Smith first made it with the Buccaneers in 2002 with an effort in the final exhibition.

"It was a deep group, deep," Marinelli said. "I was looking for one more guy at the end for camp, and my thing is, I just want someone who's tough. I don't want a guy quitting or moping or pouting. I'll say this right now, he was as tough a guy as I've ever coached, and that last preseason game, he had an ankle (the size of a volleyball). It was ugly.

"Strap it up, and he played great. He played like he wasn't hurt and he made our team. We cut a third-round or fourth-round pick, he was a heck of a player."

Marinelli said he doesn't tell that story to players but he does talk about his "respect" for the final game and the opportunities it presents.

Here are five positions to watch for a new face Thursday night against the Browns:

1. After wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher, who looks well positioned, fullback Kyle Adams might be the undrafted free agent creating the most buzz. The Bears moved him to fullback from tight end midway through training camp and he has been front and center on special teams, running with the starters in all four phases. Adams would offer roster versatility if he made it, but Eddie Williams and Will Ta'ufo'ou have more experience as blocking backs. It's not out of the realm of possibility to think two of them make it, but that would be a stretch.

2. Defensive end Mario Addison, an undrafted pass rusher from Troy (think DeMarcus Ware and Osi Umenyiora) has been mentioned consistently by Marinelli since Corey Wootton was injured. Nick Reed has gotten a chance too. But with Wootton due back to practice possibly next week, one or both of these players might be ticketed for the practice squad.

3. The Bears kept nine defensive linemen last season and that's a good number to work with again. Former third-round pick Marcus Harrison will have to make a case for a sixth tackle. He could be on the outside looking in and motivation clearly has been an issue.

4. It has been a long while since the Bears have developed a linebacker they drafted so chances are J.T. Thomas sticks around as a sixth-round pick. The bigger question is whether or not undrafted free agent Dom DeCicco is a keeper. He showed well early in training camp but needs a strong finish.

5. The Bears don't want to repeat their quarterback development project from a year ago and lose their draft pick. So Nathan Enderle figures to stick around. He hasn't played since the first exhibition and the brief-lived No. 2 quarterback flap. He will play a lot Thursday. "It's one of those things where there is really nothing to worry about," Enderle said. "Hopefully, I will find a spot."

bmbiggs@tribune.com

Twitter @BradBiggs

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Kyle Adams must be tearing it up in practice and on ST because I haven't been impressed with him as a FB/HB at all. To me the job should go to "Tofu" if it goes to anybody. If they decide to keep just three backs, and that seems likely, then there may be room for both.