Bears’ 2023 Achilles’ heel on offense set to face their biggest challenge in the season opener against the Titans
It's no secret that the Chicago Bears pass protection was a worrisome unit during the 2023 season, especially in the interior of the front.During last season, the Bears interior offensive line allowed a combined 104 pressures, 17 QB hits, and nine sacks according to Pro Football Focus.No wonder the Bears front office made it an […]
It's no secret that the Chicago Bears pass protection was a worrisome unit during the 2023 season, especially in the interior of the front.
During last season, the Bears interior offensive line allowed a combined 104 pressures, 17 QB hits, and nine sacks according to Pro Football Focus.
No wonder the Bears front office made it an effort to address the concern during the offseason by bringing in more experienced players to round out the position to better support the team's new franchise quarterback.
The most notable addition was new starting center Coleman Shelton, who battled all offseason with another newcomer in Ryan Bates for the starting role. At guard, the Bears are expected to have the same starting two players in Teven Jenkins and Nate Davis in the regular season opener against the Tennessee Titans.
Even though the team will be returning four of the five starters up-front, the level of depth in the room has given the team a lot more confidence going into the season.
"We have more versatility, more depth. Shoot, we have 10 guys, so I feel comfortable," general manager Ryan Poles said. "Obviously, you want your starting five to be healthy and ready to go, but I feel more confident in the depth of our offensive line than I ever have before."
That depth includes Matt Pryor with 75 games of playing experience, Bates with 73 games of playing experience, third round rookie Kiran Amegadjie, along with Doug Kramer Jr. and Bill Murray who each played well during the preseason. Speaking of the preseason, the overhauled interior of the front allowed just one sack and six pressures in the team's four games.
However, that group will be up against their biggest test of the season right out of the gate. The interior unit for the Titans defensive line is going to be loaded on Sunday, headlined by Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. Simmons is coming off a 5.5 sack season where he totaled 47 total pressures and 11 QB hits.
Simmons has already set his sights on Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and plans to welcome him into the league in a big way on Sunday. He will also have a new running mate on the interior in 6'4, 366 pound rookie T'Vondre Sweat.
The Titans drafted the massive defensive tackle in the second round out of Texas, where he recorded two sacks and 29 total pressures during his final season.
Those two players will be at the key of the Titans defensive game plan to make Williams uncomfortable in the pocket. It's up to the interior of the Bears offensive line to make sure that doesn't happen on Sunday at Solider Field.
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