The Chicago Bears are returning four of their five starting offensive lineman this season. While the continuity on the offensive line should be beneficial, the unit is coming off a disappointing season. Pro Football Focus ranked the Bears’ offensive line 22nd in the NFL.
While Chicago needs better play from the tackle position with Charles Leno Jr. and Bobby Massie, the interior of the offensive line is less than a concern. Last season, the Bears moved Cody Whitehair from center to left guard and James Daniels from left guard to center, despite a solid season in 2018.
But midway through the 2019 season, the Bears switched them back to their 2018 positions. While head coach Matt Nagy hasn’t said whether Whitehair and Daniels will switch positions again, the expectation was that they’d remain in place.
Whitehair, who started last season at left guard, essentially confirmed that he’ll be the team’s center heading into training camp. Which is good, considering that’s where he feels he’s best at.
“That’s where I feel the most comfortable,” Whitehair said on Bears All-Access. “Obviously I’m a team guy and I’ll do whatever they ask me to do. If it happens to be where they need me to play a different position, whether that be July 28 when we come in the building or, you know, whenever that may be, you know I’m always down for it.
“But you know just being comfortable at that position and being played there for as long as I have in the NFL it’s really exciting to be able to be there to start the season again.”
The Bears brought in Juan Castillo to serve as the team’s new offensive line coach, considering they’ll have most of 2019’s unit still in tact. The only hole to fill is right guard, which Germain Ifedi figures to occupy.
Whitehair said that Castillo has been focused on the details during their meetings, which is something the offense as a whole needed to do.
“It was great,” Whitehair. “Juan did a great job as far as detailing things and making sure that we understand what he wants out of us, you know. So we felt it went really smooth.”
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