The Chicago Bears offensive line is truly one of the big enigmas of this training camp. Juan Castillo, their new coach, has the tough task of turning things around despite few changes to the actual personnel. Is this possible? Head coach Matt Nagy thinks so. In order to make it happen though, guys will have to step up. A lot of fans were hoping this was the time for younger players to emerge. Somebody like Alex Bars.
An undrafted free agent in 2019, Bars was a standout at Notre Dame before an untimely knee injury ruined his final season. Most believe he almost certainly would’ve been drafted if that had not happened. The Bears felt they were getting a big, strong, and technically sound player who could turn into something more once fully recovered. He seemed to perform quite well in the preseason as a rookie.
So well that after landing on the practice squad the New England Patriots tried to sign him. The Bears eventually elevated him to the main roster. Since then though he hasn’t been heard from. Many wonder if the change in position coach might spell his doom. However, Adam Jahns of The Athletic thinks his play on the field is saving him.
“Offensive line coach Juan Castillo highlighted Germain Ifedi’s starting experience in Seattle when discussing the reasoning for Ifedi’s play with starters. It’s something that Coward never had until last season when he came in for injured Ted Larsen, who came in for an injured Kyle Long. At this point, I’m wondering if Coward is on the bubble. Alex Bars started to play better, too.”
Alex Bars has versatility the team can use
A major thing going in Bars’ favor with all this is his ability to play multiple positions. He logged time at both guard and tackle in college. While guard is his primary position in the NFL, it’s nice to know he can be shifted outside if there were an emergency. Right now it’s clear Germain Ifedi is the guy at right guard. However, it sounds like Rashaad Coward might be losing his grip on the spot as the main backup.
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It’s a late twist in a story that already seemed written. A reminder that nothing is over until it’s over. Bars is a talented young man. He can play on Sundays. That was never up for dispute. It was a matter of whether he could show that consistently on the field enough to earn the trust of coaches. By the sound of things, he’s begun to do that.