Let's talk Bubble Guys

[HuskieBear]

Last preseason game going on right now - this is a HUGE game for the bubble guys. Let's focus this thread on the guys that are roster spots 46-56 (yes, i know roster is capped at 53, but we're gonna talk about guys that just miss the cut, right?)

QB

this is pretty well settled. nothing to see here. the only thing that changes is if somebody wants to come get foles, which i doubt

RB

Locks - Monty...Williams...Herbert...Cohen

Bubble - Nall...Pierce

These are the only two bubble guys at RB. Monty, Williams, and Herbert are locks IMO. Cohen i think starts the season on PUP. Hasn't practiced once, and we should be able to survive without him for the first 6 weeks. Nall carries a huge edge in ST over Pierce. Because of this, i don't think Pierce makes the team, but is one of the first guys put on PS if he clears waivers. If we decide to keep 4 RBs with Cohen going to PUP, i expect Nall to be kept on the team.

WR 

Locks - Arob...Mooney...Goodwin...Byrd

Bubble - Newsome...Adams...Ridley...Johnson...Lacy...Coulter

I might be forgetting someone in the WR room, but these are the main guys. I think Newsome makes the roster, based on being a recent draft pick and having return ability. How he plays on ST when he's not a returner is gonna be important. Adams and Ridley i believe are fighting for the 6th and last spot. Adams has consistently shown up this preseason with a strong rapport between fields and him. Ridley was a fairly high draft pick a couple years ago, someone Pace had ~conviction~ on, but hasn't done much in two years. Watching game 3 right now, he's flashed a bit on ST, and i don't recall seeing Adams do much there. Does Pace keep Ridley around to see if he finally meets his potential? Johnson and Lacy are like Ridley/Adams, but the next rung down. Both have made a play or two in the preseason, but i don't see them making the team. Lacy was on PS last year. Coulter was drafted by the Texas a couple spots ahead of Mooney - oops. time isn't on his side, i dont expect him to make the team. However, with expanded PS again this year, I expect 2 of Adams/Ridley/Johnson/Lacy/Coulter to make the PS

TE

Locks - Kmet...Graham...James

Bubble - Holtz...Horstead...Harrington

James coming in late and securing a spot, good for him. I imagine if he does well this season that he gets a 2 year extension and is TE #2 the next year. Main battle here is Holtz/Horstead. I don't see us keeping 5 TEs, unless they see Holtz as a FB/TE and he takes Nall's potential roster spot. IMO Holtz is JAG. idk if he's been hurt, but i can't remember seeing him play this preseason. A guy at his level is a dime a dozen. Horstead is a converted college WR and looks like it. Runs good routes, but is rough as a blocker. 2 TDs (so far) in this last game - he flashes in the pass game (remember that tudder against detroit 2 years ago?). I'm not sure he clears waivers this year, he's a guy i bet on to be TE #3 next year. ST play, like most of these guys, is gonna be big. Harrington is a Stanford TE, you know those guys are gonna be well coached. He wont make the team, but i'm not worried about him being claimed, and see him being on the PS this year. **** i got down to the ILB when horstead made that SICK catch for his THIRD TUDDY of the game. i think we def keep him now, but that's just me

OL

Locks - Peters...Ifedi...Borom...Daniels...Mustipher...Whitehair...Bars...Jenkins

Bubble - Simmons...Hambright...Wilkerson...Eiselen...Wheatley Jr...Redmon

Jenkins is included in the locks because if we want to bring him back off IR during the season, he has to be on the initial 53. That's gonna take a roster spot from somebody on the team initially (position regardless). As far as bubble guys, i don't think theres any chance Eiselen/Redmon/Wheatley make the 53. I expect at least one of them on PS. Wilkerson might be controversial, but i just don't think he's looked good. I think he does make the roster, but i also think it's between him and Simmons. Borom can play the swing tackle behind peters and ifedi, especially if jenkins is expected to come back at some point. Bars can also play RT if needed. Hambright i don't think makes the team, but will make the PS as a backup G. Wouldn't surprise me if 9 make the initial roster, then jenkins goes to IR and another that gets cut gets added. I just think the versitility of a lot of our guys to play G/C (whitehair, bars, Daniels) or g/T (borom, bars, simmons maybe) allows us to keep 8 guys, with 3 dressed as subs, allowing us an extra db/lb for ST reasons.

DL

Locks - Hicks...Nichols...Goldman...Tonga...Edwards...Blackmon

Bubble - London...Archibong

I was actually surprised, looking at our roster, that our DL is actually kinda thin, numbers wise, during the preseason. Edwards wont count against the 53 to begin the season as he's suspended. Thats gonna mean either we open the season with 5 on our DL (not the worst) or it allows one of the bubble guys to make the opening roster. if the latter happens, i think it goes to archibong. he's played a ton this preseason, and hasn't looked out of place. both guys spent last season on the PS, but london got a little banged up recently, which might lead to arch staying if the team opens with 6 guys to start the season

ILB

Locks - Ro...DT...Ogletree...Cheese

Bubble - Iggy...Woods...Johnson

Ro and DT are obvious locks. Cheese was a real good ST player his first time around, and even though he's not a starter or development guy, he can start in a pinch and we know he can play ST. Ogletree forced his way onto the team this TC. showed up in shape for the first time in years and has done nothing but make plays. he'll be the first guy in if there's an injury, and might even go in on obvious pass downs ahead of DT. of the three bubble guys, Johnson is the most impressive over Iggy and Woods. the vets have the ~ST~ advantage, but man, i'm not super impressed by either of them. johnson seems to be around the ball constantly. He's another guy that i wouldn't feel comfortable with getting through waivers at final cuts, but i've been wrong before. we know what iggy and woods bring to the team, but if we keep extra guys elsewhere on the team (olb, db, OL, TE, RB) then we could roll with just 4 super experienced ILBs

OLB

Locks - Mack...Quinn...Attaochou...Gipson

Bubble - Snowden...Kamara...Vaughters

the locks are pretty obvious. i also think, unless quinn ABSOLUTELY blows things up this year, that he's gone. that means we need guys to step up. we know what vaughters brings, and he was our 5th olb last year. i'm VERY intrigued with both Snowden and Kamara. Snowden is your floyd time player, and kamara is your Mcphee - a converted college DL to play a big OLB. if we keep 5, which i think we should, i would love to keep snowden, based purely on his potential. Kamara is a little banged up, not sure he's even playing tonight - so i think we can sneak him on to our PS or just red shirt him on IR. Vaughters is like the holtz of the LB room. he'll make a play every once and a while, but he's JAG and i'd rather us keep a younger guy to develop on the back end of the roster than on a 4/5/6 year vet that is similar to a street vet.

CB

Locks - Johnson...Vildor

Bubble - Graham...Burns...Roberson...Trufant...Shelley...Crawford...Ruffin

Wow, this is weird. only two locks for me, and that's because i could easily see any of the guys under bubble NOT making the team. I think graham does, because of his recent draft status and how, before his covid opt out, he was a legit prospect. however, he did a BAD job on a 4th and 1 play for a td against the titans. Shelley i think makes the team as a starting nickel, but i'm not super thrilled with that. Burns/Trufant could win the 2nd CB spot, or could get cut - i don't love that. Roberson had a pick 6, but has he done enough to make the team? got the largest signing bonus as a player coming from the CFL since cameron wake, is that enough to keep him around, or does he get cut and go to PS/picked up on waivers? Crawford played a little nickel, but i think he's destined for the PS. Ruffin was cut in the first wave, then brought back after wims was cut. i don't forsee him sticking around

S

Locks - EJax...Gipson...Bush...DHC

Bubble - Tabor...Christian 

Locks are pretty straightforward. for the first time since Amos, EJax has the same SS playing next to him in consecutive years. Bush and DHC have been ST standouts since they were drafted together 6 years ago, and either could start in a pinch if needed. I don't think tabor makes it - he was a 2nd round pick at CB by Detroit and is moving to S. I could see him on the PS. Christian is interesting. I don't think he does anything outstanding, but is decent enough. has played a little nickel in a pinch. just jumped offside as im writing this. if we keep 5 safeties, i expect him to make the team

Specialists

Locks - Santos, Scales, O'Donnell

Bubble - Johnson

is this a question? Johnson showed out this preseason, and by all accounts had a really good TC. if a K needy team like NOLA doesn't trade a conditional pick for him, i think he sticks around on the PS just in case of injury or covid for Cairo. nothing else to say here.

 

Total Locks - 44 (not including Edwards)

Spots available - 9

Nine spots available. I expect 4 of those 9 to go to CBs. 2 if those to go to WR. that leaves 3 tocome down to how we want to build our team. 10 OLine? 4-5 TE? 4-5 RB? 4-5 ILB/OLB? If we're looking at 3, i would like to see Horstead/Snowden/Johnson. those are the guys that show the most potential, and areas where we need depth where we are a little thin/older. I expect Christian and Nall to be at the top of that list as well. Could see a guy like simmons/wilkerson be cut at final cuts, then once Jenkins gets put on IR, one of them to get signed back. Obviously this isn't including cuts across the league, so it should be an interest next few days.

[AZBearsFan]

2 hours ago, HuskieBear said:

TE

Locks - Kmet...Graham...James

Bubble - Holtz...Horstead...Harrington

People are gonna be so mad when Horsted doesn’t make the team. I like his game too… but hear me out.

In 2021, short of a huge rash of injuries at TE, when is he playing?

If the position group is fully healthy, Kmet and Graham are getting almost all the game day reps and those that they don’t almost surely going to James. If one of them is hurt then the other two are getting all of them. Holtz has some value as a lead blocker which we don’t have anywhere else on the roster, and played 212 ST snaps for us last and in all 16 games. Horsted can’t fill the lead blocker role, and I’m not sure what he brings on coverage teams (he may be decent there - I’m just not sure).

Once Graham is gone in 2022 I think Horsted absolutely has a role here. I’m just not sure he has one here before then, which is an unfortunate reality since Graham is at the end of his career and Horsted the beginning.

If we don’t think we can get Horsted through to the PS but can’t hide him on the 53 without weakening another part of the roster I wonder if maybe we can’t flip him for a draft pick. 

[JAF-N72EX]

QB:
Dalton, Foles -- Fields is garbage...he goes to the PS squad until Foles gets traded by week 6 😎.

RB: Monty, Williams, Herbert, Cohen

I think with Cohen's injury they use him more in STs and in the slot on passing downs to limit his snaps. I'm not high on Williams and I hope Herbert eventually takes snaps away from him (although the wide open drop tonight in the bread basket gave me Jordan Howard like vibes). Pierce appears to have more upside than Nall and Nall has been here about 3 years and shown nothing but a few flashes in preseason here and there.....so Pierce is placed higher than he is by default.

TE: Kmet, Graham, ???
Everyone seems to be high on James but I'm not. The depth here is looking scarce.

OL: Same as above.

I think Wilkinson was all but gone the minute they signed Peters, and after his showing in last week PS game I can see why. So I doubt he makes the cut. Simmons and Redmond all but played themselves out of a job last week after the big hit on Fields. Albright may not have a high ceiling, but he has "good backup" level potential, so I wouldn't cut him. Didn't watch Eisley and Wheatley enough to form an opinion on either of them, but chances are they aren't better than the other 9 OLineman I've already mentioned.

DL: Hicks, Goldman, Nichols, Edwards, Tonga. Blackson

Complete toss up here. As you touched on Huskie, this is looking thin. Especially when you factor in possible injuries. Tonga, Blackson, Hicks, and Goldman are all susceptible to missing time at any given moment and I'm not confident in London or Archibong either.

ILB: Quan, DT, Ogletree, Jones 

Iggy has been a good ST player and still learning. Johnson is an interesting player to watch. He's had his ups and downs but he's still raw and I'd like to see what he can do in a real game when the pass rush is clicking. I think he has the intangibles and most potential to eventually replace DT.

OLB: Mack, Quinn, Gipson, Atta,

Agreed with Snowden but i'm not impressed with the lack of depth at a key position. Hopefully Quinn can somehow find his 2019 self again.

CB: JJ, Vildor, Skelley, Roberson, Graham

I think Skelley is penciled in at NB (I just hope he's being kept on a short leash). Roberson backs up Vildor (there's a reason why most teams in the league showed interest in him). I have no idea what's going on with Trufant. Burns has experience, but that's about it. Crawford and Ruffin are on the outside looking in.

S: Eddie, Gipson, DHC, Bush

As you pointed, this is almost a given. Likewise with STs.

[Madmike90]

5 hours ago, AZBearsFan said:

People are gonna be so mad when Horsted doesn’t make the team. I like his game too… but hear me out.

In 2021, short of a huge rash of injuries at TE, when is he playing?

If the position group is fully healthy, Kmet and Graham are getting almost all the game day reps and those that they don’t almost surely going to James. If one of them is hurt then the other two are getting all of them. Holtz has some value as a lead blocker which we don’t have anywhere else on the roster, and played 212 ST snaps for us last and in all 16 games. Horsted can’t fill the lead blocker role, and I’m not sure what he brings on coverage teams (he may be decent there - I’m just not sure).

Once Graham is gone in 2022 I think Horsted absolutely has a role here. I’m just not sure he has one here before then, which is an unfortunate reality since Graham is at the end of his career and Horsted the beginning.

If we don’t think we can get Horsted through to the PS but can’t hide him on the 53 without weakening another part of the roster I wonder if maybe we can’t flip him for a draft pick. 

I would 100% agree with you if it wasn't for the fact we are majorly lacking depth at outside receiver when it comes to size...other than Robinson we might not have another WR over 6'0"...now as much as we know size isn't everything there are times when it will massively help...Horsted can play in that "F"/big slot spot better than James and provides a true backup at that spot...I think he has played too well to let him walk and would even rather carry 5 TEs and either one less at receiver or ILB.

[abstract_thought]

QB: Dalton - Fields - Foles
I don't see another team trading for Foles. That's a mistake the Bears have to live with.

RB: Montgomery - Williams - Herbert - Nall
Best depth the Bears have had at the position in awhile. Cohen starts the season on the PUP. Pierce probably stays on the PS.

WR: Robinson - Mooney - Goodwin - Byrd - Newsome - Adams
I think Adams' KR experience seals the deal as he was viewed as a KR specialist coming out of college. Plus he's been Fields' most reliable target throughout the preseason.

TE: Graham - Kmet - James - Holtz
I wish Horsted could find a spot because the Bears otherwise lack a flex TE to back up Graham. I think he goes to the PS. I don't see another team claiming him.

OL: Peters - Whitehair - Mustipher - Daniels - Ifedi - Borom - Bars - Simmons - Jenkins
Hambright goes to the PS. Wilkinson gets cut and they either re-sign him or take another player after Jenkins' spot frees up.

DL: Hicks - Goldman - Nichols - Blackson - Tonga
Edwards starts the year suspended. I think they use his spot to carry another LB.

ILB: Smith - Trevathan - Ogletree - Jones - Iggy
Bears value Iggy's contributions on ST coverage.

OLB: Mack - Quinn - Gibson - Attaochu
Snowden and Kamara go to the PS.

CB: Johnson - Burns - Shelley - Vildor - Trufant - Christian
I think they bring in a cut from another team to add depth here. Nobody in this group has stood out in preseason. Graham to the PS.

S: Jackson - Gipson - Bush - Houston-Carson
One of the few positions on the roster with good depth.

ST: Santos - O'Donnell - Scales

Edited August 29, 2021 by abstract_thought

[soulman]

12 hours ago, HuskieBear said:

RB

Locks - Monty...Williams...Herbert...Cohen

Bubble - Nall...Pierce

Unless there's some overwhelming need for Nalls on ST I would let both go.  Cohen needs be on the roster before he can be put on the IR so we do that THEN maybe we bring back which ever is the better ST guy.

12 hours ago, HuskieBear said:

WR 

Locks - Arob...Mooney...Goodwin...Byrd

Bubble - Newsome...Adams...Ridley...Johnson...Lacy...Coulter

They're likely to keep six so you keep Adams because he's earned it and Newsome as the PR while you keep getting him reps as a slot guy you can start next season.  If we keep a 7th it would be strictly as an ST guy in lieu of someone else at another position.

12 hours ago, HuskieBear said:

Locks - Kmet...Graham...James

Bubble - Holtz...Horstead...Harrington

If Nagy hasn't become enamored enough of Horsted by now to see he's far more valuable than an old red zone war horse like JG we should probably have Nagy euthanized.  If Holtz is more valuable as ST guy and FB/HB than Nalls keep him as well for that reason only.

12 hours ago, HuskieBear said:

OL

Locks - Peters...Ifedi...Borom...Daniels...Mustipher...Whitehair...Bars...Jenkins

Bubble - Simmons...Hambright...Wilkerson...Eiselen...Wheatley Jr...Redmon

Hoo boy, if there was one unit on this team I'd like to wipe clean and start over with it's the OL.  Jenkins makes the roster then goes on IR replaced by Simmons or Wilkenson (it should be neither but we don't have a choice).  Who do we keep to play OC since Mustipher is still getting man handled but DT/NT?  Is it coaching, schemes, or are some of these guys just that lacking in talent.  It's still like a Chinese Fire Drill out there.

12 hours ago, HuskieBear said:

DL

Locks - Hicks...Nichols...Goldman...Tonga...Edwards...Blackmon

Bubble - London...Archibong

The locks are all we need.  Anyone else goes on waivers and then resigned to the PS when they clear.

12 hours ago, HuskieBear said:

Locks - Ro...DT...Ogletree...Cheese

Bubble - Iggy...Woods...Johnson

You keep Caleb Johnson if you have a spot for him or you cut him then hope he clears waivers and sign him to the PS.  Iggy and Woods just aren't valuable enough to keep.  We can find others for the PS after cuts have been made.

12 hours ago, HuskieBear said:

Locks - Mack...Quinn...Attaochou...Gipson

Bubble - Snowden...Kamara...Vaughters

How many will they keep?  Snowden is much like Caleb Johnson.  If you can find a spot for him keep him or pray you can sneak him through waivers and get him on the PS.  Of the other two I'd look to keep Kamara on the PS ahead of Vaughters but I'm good keeping both.

12 hours ago, HuskieBear said:

Locks - Johnson...Vildor

Bubble - Graham...Burns...Roberson...Trufant...Shelley...Crawford...Ruffin

This isn't all that difficult.  Burns, Graham, Shelley.  Trufant is MIA so I'm assuming he's done for now or they may bring him back after week one.

12 hours ago, HuskieBear said:

S

Locks - EJax...Gipson...Bush...DHC

Bubble - Tabor...Christian 

Christian over Tabor because he can also play in the slot.

12 hours ago, HuskieBear said:

Specialists

Locks - Santos, Scales, O'Donnell

Bubble - Johnson

Pretty cut and dried here.  Get Johnson onto the PS if possible.  The guy has a cannon for a leg.

 

We can probably count on whoever ends up on the final 53 prior to the opener not being exactly the same after it.  There's always some shuffling taking place over that first week or two.

[AZBearsFan]

5 hours ago, Madmike90 said:

I would 100% agree with you if it wasn't for the fact we are majorly lacking depth at outside receiver when it comes to size...other than Robinson we might not have another WR over 6'0"...now as much as we know size isn't everything there are times when it will massively help...Horsted can play in that "F"/big slot spot better than James and provides a true backup at that spot...I think he has played too well to let him walk and would even rather carry 5 TEs and either one less at receiver or ILB.

I agree with the logic - I just don’t see it that way. I think if it comes down to Newsome or Horsted I think this year’s draft pick who might also be our PR gets that nod. I also think Adams (6’1”) is a lock for the roster at this point having both gotten run with the 1s and having excelled with Fields. 

5 hours ago, Madmike90 said:

we know size isn't everything

If only we could still do sig quotes… 

[Madmike90]

23 minutes ago, AZBearsFan said:

I agree with the logic - I just don’t see it that way. I think if it comes down to Newsome or Horsted I think this year’s draft pick who might also be our PR gets that nod. I also think Adams (6’1”) is a lock for the roster at this point having both gotten run with the 1s and having excelled with Fields. 

If only we could still do sig quotes… 

Hahahah...

I just don't see what Newsome has done to make this roster...for me he is PS guy right now.

[Madmike90]

Locks I have right now...

QB..Dalton...Fields...Foles

RB...Montgomery...Williams...Herbert

WR...Robinson...Mooney...Byrd...Goodwin

TE...Kmet...Graham...James

OT...Peters...Ifedi...Borom

OG...Daniels...Whitehair

C...Mustipher

DL...Goldman...Hicks...Nichols...Tonga...Blackson...Edwards Jr.

OLB...Mack...Quinn...Gipson...Attaochu

ILB...Roquan...Trevathan...Ogletree...Jones

CB...Johnson...Vildor...Burns

S...Jackson...Gipson...Bush...Houston-Carson

ST...O'Donnell...Scales...Santos

That's 43 locks...the bottom 10 of the roster I see...

H-Back...Holtz

WR...Adams

TE...Horsted

OT...Wilkerson

OG...Bars

ILB...Johnson

CB...Graham

CB...Shelley

The final 2 roster spots I expect to be a CB & a WR that come from another teams cuts...especially at CB where I have zero faith in Trufant...I would also love to replace Wilkerson with another OT but I suspect his guaranteed money keeps him around for a season.

Edited August 29, 2021 by Madmike90

[AZBearsFan]

2 minutes ago, Madmike90 said:

Hahahah...

I just don't see what Newsome has done to make this roster...for me he is PS guy right now.

I don’t disagree but I’m pretty sure he’s our primary punt returner, at least until Cohen is back. 

[Madmike90]

3 minutes ago, AZBearsFan said:

I don’t disagree but I’m pretty sure he’s our primary punt returner, at least until Cohen is back. 

I would think Herbert takes that job.

[Sugashane]

1 hour ago, AZBearsFan said:

If only we could still do sig quotes… 

I'm sure there's a way to still do it.  Lol

[HuskieBear]

1 hour ago, Sugashane said:

I'm sure there's a way to still do it.  Lol

i mean, you have an "adopt a bear" in there, so i'm sure a quote could be done. even if not the normal forum way

[HuskieBear]

2 hours ago, soulman said:

Cohen needs be on the roster before he can be put on the IR so we do that THEN maybe we bring back which ever is the better ST guy.

Cohen is on PUP, so he either needs to be activated off of that, be on the 53, THEN put on IR to come back in 3 weeks, or he could just stay on PUP, not count towards the initial 53, and come back after 6 weeks. If he's not gonna be completely ready by week 4, then there's no need to activate him, just let him stay on PUP for another couple weeks.

This is another reason why jenkins being hurt all season but not on PUP is a bigger issue. we need to carry him on the initial 53 before we can put him on IR. he's def not gonna be back within 3 weeks. he never practiced, even day one, so he should have been put on PUP to start camp, then he could have been taken off at any point during TC if he was ready. 

[HuskieBear]

anyways, i would love to see Snowden, Johnson, Horstead make the 53 as bubble guys. I think they've shown the most this preseason that they could be contributors on the team, but showed too much to make it much harder to sneak through to the PS