A lot of people are nervous about the Chicago Bears offense. Did they do enough to make it better than what it was in 2019? Technically yes. They found more depth and competition at several positions. Nick Foles brings credibility and championship pedigree to quarterback. Jimmy Graham and Cole Kmet look like much more reliable options at tight end. Ted Ginn Jr. and Darnell Mooney bring much-needed speed at wide receiver. In fact the one area that has people worried the most is offensive line. This is where Germain Ifedi comes in.
With the main waves of free agency passed and the draft concluded, it’s clear he was the most notable addition to the trenches. A 60-game starter for the Seattle Seahawks, Ifedi was a 1st round pick in 2016. Experts seemed to really like him. Yet he never quite seemed to reach that upper-tier level the Seahawks had hoped he would. Hence why they let him leave in free agency.
Now the Bears are going to take a calculated risk by switching him from right tackle, which he’d played for the past three season, to right guard. Expectations are that is the position he’ll compete for with many believing he’s the current favorite for the job. Not exactly a move that brings a sense of comfort. Are the Bears just talking themselves into thinking it will work or do they have valid reasons?
As it turns out, it’s not an entirely bad move.
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Germain Ifedi probably should’ve always been a guard
Back during his rookie year in 2016, Ifedi was the starting right guard for Seattle. After a rough beginning half of the season, he really started to come on down the stretch. At one point, the Seahawks averaged 163.75 yards rushing during a four-game stretch. They also racked up 177 yards in their playoff victory over Detroit. Ifedi was a big part of that and it showed up a lot on film.
Keep in mind the kid went up against some really, really good defensive tackles during this stretch. Among them were Fletcher Cox, Gerald McCoy, Kawann Short, and Aaron Donald. All Pro Bowlers who are considered among the best in the league at that time. While Ifedi lost his share of battles, he more than held his own in others. This raises questions again about why the Seahawks moved him to tackle.
Draft experts saw his best place being at guard where it could maximize his natural power and size.
“Ifedi is built like a greek god, but plays like a warrior, using his length and power to initiate contact and control defenders. The Aggies product has the quick feet to seal the edge consistently and respond to counters, but his footwork and kick slide will need to improve dramatically at the next level.
Ifedi can be a beast in the run game when he leg drives through contact, as his grip strength and initial quickness off the ball overwhelm most defenders.”
The Bears had one of the worst running games in the NFL last season. Improving it is vital to offensive success in 2020. Ifedi may not be perfect, but he is exactly what they need.