Chicago Bears 2011 Position Battles: Defensive Backs

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Sep 1, 2011 1:00 PM CDT in Roster Analysis

One final position to squeeze in for this series, and that's the secondary. I think this is an average group as a whole, but these guys will look as good as the defensive line lets them. If the D-Line is getting after the quarterback the DB's will have less time to cover or to settle in their zones, but if the D-Line is struggling all the warts will come out for those guys. There are eight corners and six safeties on the current roster, so some playbooks will need to be turned in.

I'll start with the corner's, and starters Charles Tillman and Tim Jennings are obvious locks. The more I watch Jennings the more I see how good a player he is for the Bears scheme. Nickleback D.J. Moore, special teams stud Corey Graham, and backup CB Zackary Bowman will also return. Undrafted rookies Antaries Bryan and Ryan Jones have no chance, but will both be practice squad candidates. Which leaves 2010 draft pick Joshua Moore on the bubble. My guess is since the Bears kept him around last year he'll have a good chance to do so again this year. He added some strength, but his roster spot could be claimed if the Bears decide to keep an extra player somewhere else.

And over at safety, Chris Harris and Major Wright make a solid starting tandem. Wright will have some growing pains at the free safety, and it'll be up to Harris to help his development on the field. Chris Conte has a spot locked up, besides being part of the '11 draft class, he's looked good this preseason and in camp. I think Craig Steltz has been around the ball a lot this preseason, so he looks safe too. Anthony Walters is on the outside looking in, the undrafted rookie free agent could return to the practice squad. And that leaves Winston Venable on the bubble. The coaches are high on his upside, and chicagobears.com even had a write up about the rookie free agent from Boise State.

The Bears could very well hold on to both Venable and Josh Moore as last year they kept 11 DB's on the opening day roster.

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Comments

Venable has been said to be a good special teams player

So I feel he stays with Josh Moore.

And, if only Tim Jennings was 6’0", he would be a pro-bowler. Such a great skill set, in such a small package.

Jay Cutler is our QB, and I for one am proud of that

by Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter on Sep 1, 2011 1:04 PM CDT reply actions

At that size, and as a pro bowler, he probably wouldn’t have ended up here.

When I assume, I'm not "making an ass out of u and me"... I'm actually putting u between me and an ass.

by Spongie on Sep 1, 2011 1:39 PM CDT up reply actions

TWSS

Such a great skill set, in such a small package.

If its free, take two.

by T.J. Shouse on Sep 1, 2011 5:39 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, Jennings is a good corner

As is Tillman. I remember when Nathan Vasher and Charles Tillman were a duo. That was one hell of a cornerback tandem, and throw in Jerry Azumah and Mike Brown and that secondary was probably top-5 in the NFC if not the league.

I’m not as impressed with the group as I was when Azumah, Vasher, and Brown were still here but this current unit is a good replacement in my mind. As far as safety play, Harris is a good player but I’m not sold on Major Wright just yet and Conte is a bit of a unknown as a rookie, but that position has potential to be serviceable at the very least, if not good.

From 0-16 to the Superbowl baby!

by DLions4Eva on Sep 1, 2011 1:16 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

I’m not sure hiw much Azumah played with Vasher and Tillman. The nickelback on the Superbowl team was Ricky (gonna hit you with my shoes) Manning Jnr. I think Azumah got his neck injury before that.

The best secondary the Bears have had this century might have had Azumah in it though. The 2000-2001 group of Harris, Azumah and McQuarters at CB and Brown and Parrish at safety gets my vote. Parrish was awesome with the 49ers after the Bears let him walk and Harris went on to have some decent years for the Colts. Mainly though it is the potential awesomeness of the safety pairing that the Bears missed out on.

by weepingbear on Sep 1, 2011 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions

Also as a bonus

They would never have traded for Archuleta.

by weepingbear on Sep 1, 2011 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't think Parrish would have had any effect on trading for Archuleta

Parrish was done in the NFL by 2006, we got Arch in 2007

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by ThorCo on Sep 1, 2011 1:40 PM CDT up reply actions

OK

maybe not.

by weepingbear on Sep 1, 2011 6:26 PM CDT up reply actions

I just prefer to pretend that archuleta was never here...

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by ThorCo on Sep 1, 2011 10:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Even though I'm still a little bitter about how he got lit up in the NFCCG

I still like Jennings. He’s tough, aggressive, and is a pretty solid tackler.

I have a feeling that opposing QBs will pick on Major Wright a LOT this year – be prepared to see a couple bonehead mistakes give up TDs. I’m really hoping he’ll be a quick study and come prepared.

Conte has looked fairly impressive in his limited action so far. Hopefully by next year we’ll be able to refer to him as something besides “The Other White Safety That’s Not Craig Steltz.”

The secondary is still the weak point of this defense, but if they can just be average, we’ll be okay.

by NorthSideBearsFan on Sep 1, 2011 3:03 PM CDT reply actions

Conte

“The other white safety.” Should be on a t-shirt.

If its free, take two.

by T.J. Shouse on Sep 1, 2011 5:34 PM CDT up reply actions

I think Steltz will be waived and Venable will be kept

Didn’t think that a couple weeks ago, He was our #4 draft pick in 08 and Harrison #3. Just haven’t seen Steltz make enough plays and Venable’s done a nice job in the pre-season games.

by walterfan34 on Sep 1, 2011 3:42 PM CDT reply actions

But Steltz made that one interception that one time!

Just ask Dane!

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If a people-avoiding gaming hermit is on Twitter, I should be too. Follow me!

by Steven Schweickert on Sep 1, 2011 3:43 PM CDT up reply actions

He did!

Kept the Lions from going 1-15 in 2008.

"Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win."

by GriggsBriggs on Sep 1, 2011 4:39 PM CDT up reply actions

while I can see where Venable

Might be a better all around athlete, I think Steltz sticks over him. I feel like Steltz is to our safeties Hillenmeyer was to our LB’rs. In a pinch as a back-up, at this point, you can put him in a game at either safety spot and when there will ne a drop off in athleticism, he won’t be making mental errors and can still make some plays.

by Fridge72 on Sep 1, 2011 4:27 PM CDT up reply actions

by DLions4Eva on Sep 1, 2011 4:31 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

Doesn't need to be shutdown...

…just above-average. Stick to your zone or your man, and let your reads do your work for you.

by Doshi on Sep 1, 2011 4:56 PM CDT up reply actions

Lol

Sounds like you’re telling Lions4Eva to stick to his own blog.

Stick to your zone or your man, and let your reads do your work for you.

If its free, take two.

by T.J. Shouse on Sep 1, 2011 5:37 PM CDT up reply actions

DLE's cool though.

Not Rence cool, but cool in his own right.

Weekend contributor and official editorial lackey/waitstaff at Windy City Gridiron
If a people-avoiding gaming hermit is on Twitter, I should be too. Follow me!

by Steven Schweickert on Sep 1, 2011 5:46 PM CDT up reply actions