The Chicago Bears have concluded their time at the Senior Bowl this past week. Now GM Ryan Poles, head coach Ben Johnson, and the rest of the team brass must prepare for the all-important scouting combine in Indianapolis. This will be the final mass gathering of top NFL draft prospects before the big event in April. Pinpointing which players the Bears may or may not like can be almost impossible. However, there are certain metrics that may help narrow the pool of names.
Here are four important facts to keep in mind once the event kicks off later this month.
Chicago Bears combine meetings are often used as misdirection
Inevitably, word will start leaking out that the Bears have met with several prospects at the combine in Indianapolis. People will immediately think this is a sign the team wants this player or that player. In reality, the Bears seem to have used this process as a subtle means of misdirection. In the past two years, the team was confirmed to have met at least 59 players at the event. Only three of them were drafted by Chicago. They were Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze, and Ozzy Trapilo. It is pretty clear that Poles likes to keep other teams guessing about who he actually plans to select.
Ben Johnson will watch the 40-yard dash for running backs
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Running back might not be considered a need right now, but that can change quickly depending on the whims of the Bears head coach. He is very particular about the position. Don’t forget he willingly moved on from Jamaal Williams and D’Andre Swift in Detroit despite both being productive. One thing you can take to the bank with Johnson is that there is no trait he covets more in that position than speed. Jahmyr Gibbs was a perfect example a few years ago. The Bears also tried trading up for TreyVeon Henderson last April. If you want an idea of who they might target in this draft, watch the 40-yard dash results.
Watch the bench press for Dennis Allen-type defensive linemen
People talk first about size and length when discussing Allen’s defensive linemen. That is true to an extent, but there is another layer to it. What the Chicago Bears’ defensive coordinator actually likes is power. Go back through his long history, and you’ll find that many of the defensive line prospects his teams drafted had strong bench press performances.
- Von Miller – 21 reps
- Khalil Mack – 23 reps
- Shelby Harris – 25 reps
- Sheldon Rankins – 28 reps
- David Onyemata – 33 reps
- Marcus Davenport – 22 reps
- Payton Turner – 23 reps
- Bryan Bresee – 22 reps
Before getting into the size and arm length discussions, be sure to keep an eye on that drill. You can make a safe assumption that any potential lineman the Bears consider at #25 must clear at least 20 reps on the bench.
Dan Roushar will circle the three-cone drill looking for his next tackle
It isn’t a secret that the Bears are seeking a possible solution at left tackle with Ozzy Trapilo recovering from a patella injury. While offensive line coach Dan Roushar will be watching the non-measured drills like bags and pass mirror, the one timed drill you should watch is the three-cone. These measure the ability to change direction at high speed, body control, and agility. All three are crucial for an NFL left tackle. The best ones in the league usually time in the 7.6-second range or better. Ryan Ramczyk, whom Roushar helped draft in New Orleans, ran a 7.29. If any tackles at the combine hit that range, make sure to circle them.
