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Bears roster bubble watch
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I must confess. I love watching bubbles.
As cut down day approaches I will take a look at the key position battles for those fighting to fill out the 53-man roster. Many of these will be decided tonight against the Cleveland Browns, and mind you these will be my opinions of what the Bears should do. If you want to know what they are likely to do I suggest you read a much more accomplished journalist like David Haugh. One thing we know for sure all nerds in Denny’s are now safe after Rickey Manning Jr. was cut.
WR: Marty Booker vs. Mark Bradley
My vote is for Bradley here. The company line so far is that everyone knows what Booker can do so the fact that he hasn’t done anything in the preseason doesn’t matter. However, I’ll take Bradley’s potential over the downside of Booker's career. In my theoretical spread offense Bradley could come up big.
RB: Garrett Wolfe vs. Lousaka Polite
The odds are against the Bears carrying six running backs so it may come down to a fourth halfback versus a second fullback. If one of them goes it’ll probably be Polite and the Bears will rely on their TEs to fill in at fullback duty. I’d prefer they let Wolfe go even though he’s the hometown boy. It’s not that he can’t play in the NFL, just that his skill set is too limited for this team.
DE: Dan Bauzin vs. Ervin Baldwin
This is likely to be a tough choice for Jerry Angelo as both players are recent draft picks. Bauzin is a second-round pick from last year (three rounds earlier than Baldwin) so it’d be bad PR to cut him. However, Bauzin hasn’t shown much coming off last year’s knee injury and Baldwin looks like the kind of athlete the coaches’ love. It’s also possible Israel Idonije’s versatility puts them both out of a job, but Baldwin is my guy for now.
LB: Michael Okwo vs. Joey LaRocque
Both of these guys were out of a job until Rod Wilson broke his forearm. Now one of them will make the roster and likely be inactive most Sunday's. LaRocque is a seventh round pick who’s easy to cut and might hang on with the practice squad. That’s why he’ll probably be on the chopping block despite limited production from Okwo.
OG: Tyler Reed vs. Anthony Oakley
The combination of Chris Williams’ injury and his own play means that seventh-round OT Kirk Barton will make the team. That means Reed and Oakley will fight it out for the last offensive line spot. Oakley’s ability to play center may tip the scales in his favor, but upside favors Reed and that’s why I’ll be pulling for him. (yes... I thought that was funny)
The only other major roster debate is whether or not Caleb Hanie makes the team or the Bears risk the practice squad with him. However, given everything else on their plate that should be a minor concern. Quarterback is oddly one of the few positions actually settled on the team. At the end of the day the Bears are in trouble if any of these players ever see significant playing time, but during an otherwise meaningless preseason game these battles give me something to watch for.
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