Who’s on the chopping block as the preseason comes to an end?
The Bears performance Sunday night in Denver is about the most encouraging preseason this side of the Saints marching up and down the field on the Oakland Raiders.
Between Jay Cutler leading the offense on a 98 yard touchdown drive, Devin Hester recapturing the magic with a 54 yard punt return, and the first team defense limiting the Broncos offense to 3 points in the first half all three phases were at the top of their game.
Now the Bears can simply coast through their final preseason match-up and head into Green Bay feeling like they can handle a 3-4 defense and a hostile crowd.
However, between now and then “the Bears” will consist of 22 fewer players as Lovie Smith and Co. make the finals cuts down to 53.
The personnel moves started yesterday when the Bears signed Rod Hood, formerly of the Arizona Cardinals and recently released by the Cleveland Browns. To make room for Hood they sent seventh round pick Derek Kinder packing and it’s probably not a good sign Trumaine McBride who struggled mightily Sunday night.
So who are the guys squarely on the chopping block?
Hunter Hillenmeyer: A steady performer for six years in Chicago, Hunter regularly made up for his athletic deficiencies by being the most disciplined player on the team and always knowing an executing his assignment. But after injuries robbed him of his starting job last year the coaching staff looks comfortable with going in another direction.
As a backup – unless the Bears decide to keep seven linebackers – Hillenmeyer’s limitation as a special teams contributor make him expendable. While injuries to Jamar Williams and Nich Roach give him an outside chance of sticking around the writing was on the wall when the Bears chose to resign Darrell McClover.
Adrian Peterson: He runs hard, he’s a steady special teams contributor, and his story as a division II running back who’s overcome a sever stutter is a great one. The problem is the serious number crunch on the offensive side and Garrett Wolfe’s surprising emersion on coverage units. He can still contribute in a number of ways but is so unlikely to see the field at this point.
If the coaches decide against going with four tight ends or feel too strongly that they can’t lose his veteran presence maybe Peterson makes it back for another season. At this point it’s not that he can’t play but that he simply doesn’t have a role on the team.
Trumaine McBride: It’s been a while since one poor preseason game cost someone their roster spot like McBride’s play did Sunday in Denver. During his two years with the Bears McBride has always been undersized but now he is also underperforming. The injuries to Tillman and Bowman provided him with more than enough opportunity, but Thursday night will almost certainly be his last in Chicago.
Brett Basanez: Last year the Lovie Smith wanted to carry just two quarterbacks in the regular season but Caleb Hanie’s play during the preseason made it impossible for him to do that. To say the least the ex-Wildcat Basanez has not made a similar impression starting with his three interception debut in Buffalo. Barring the unexpected Baz will be back on the open market Saturday.
Michael Gaines: His fate may be fully intertwined with that of Adrian Peterson. Peterson has the track record and history with the team, but Gaines ability to backup at fullback and the number of two tight end sets the Bears run gives him a lot more utility.
Whether Gaines get cut or not will probably also say a lot about Kellen Davis’ progress as a blocker and if coaches feel they need to have someone else in there on goal line and short yardage sets.
Josh Bullocks: Both Bullocks and Craig Steltz have been buried on the depth chart since training camp opened. Bullocks brings more to the table athletically but the Bears touted Steltz as the presumed starter at free safety all offseason. Either will fill the role of fourth safety and be a mainstay on special teams so this is where draft status will probably give Steltz the edge.
Brandon Rideau/Devin Aromashodu: I list them together because the Bears are only keeping six wide receivers at most and – assuming they won’t give up on Rashied Davis’ special teams contributions – one of these two have to go. Rideau has to be caught off guard by this position after entering camp as the #3 and earning rave reviews early, but we haven’t heard much about him lately and have seen even less production on the field.
Aromashodu appears to have the advantage of franchise quarterback Jay Cutler in his corner and the most impressive catch of the preseason against the Giants. Additionally, if Cutler leads him inside a little more he probably pulls in a touchdown grab against the Broncos. Neither guy is going to make an impact outside the offense and that means only one can stick around.
Along with those veterans there are also an unusual number of draft picks who will be sweating out the final cuts. Here are a few guys whose future with the Bears may be on the practice squad:
D.J. Moore: After the draft Angelo really talked like he’d gotten a steal who could provide immediate depth at cornerback. While the steal part still might be true there is going to be nothing immediate about Moore’s impact on the Bears.
After recording one pass break up against the Bills, Moore has been virtually invisible and has lost playing time to less known players Woodny Turenne and Rudy Burgess. Moore is trying to overcome the same size issues as Trumaine McBride and so far has been unable to do so.
Marcus Freeman: If the Bears are seriously considering letting a player of Hunter Hillenmeyer go –and it’s a safe bet they are – then someone like Freeman really doesn’t have much of a chance. Despite his interception Sunday in Denver and his blog over at chicagobears.com Freeman’s impact has been limited.
Freeman has gone from a projected second round pick two years ago to a practice squad candidate. With Jamar Williams potentially a free agent after this year – pending a new collective bargaining agreement – the coaching staff can hope a year with the organization can have Freeman ready to step in and step up next summer.
Henry Melton: As a converted running back out of Texas everyone knew that Melton was going to be a project. Unfortunately given the number crunch along the defensive line the Bears really can’t afford to carry a project on the 53-man roster. Thankfully it’s unlikely anyone else can either and Melton should make it through the waivers process.
With a year of tutelage from Rod Marinelli while on the practice squad Melton could be someone to watch. With the impending free agency of Adewale Ogunleye and Mark Anderson, Melton could be provided with a unique opportunity to make a serious impact next season






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