Should Bears go after former Packers offensive lineman? |
Now that we are roughly one month into the NFL season (25%), we are starting to get a feel for what most teams will look like this season. The Bears have continued to show signs of improvement, but their inconsistent play shows that they are a work in progress.
While their defense is still top-notch across the board, the offense has struggled. A lot of that falls on first-year offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and his lack of play-calling knowledge. Apart from that, you have had a running game that was non-existent until this week and an offensive line that continues to struggle. That is the one area we are going to focus on today, as the Bears must address their offensive line sooner rather than later. Looking at their current roster, Chicago has some guys who should be playing better than they have been, but for whatever reason, the entire unit has struggled since week one. Throw in a new injury to Teven Jenkins, leaving his Week 5 status up in the air, and the already battered offensive line could be down another body, and that is never a good thing. If the Bears want to contend/make the playoffs this season, it will come down to the offensive line, and at some point, Ryan Poles must address this issue. Why not take a look at former Green Bay Packer David Bakhtiari as an option? The long-time veteran remains a free agent on the open market and is free to sign with anyone. Bakhtiari is no stranger to having success against the Bears or the NFC North, for that matter, as he spent a decade in Green Bay protecting Aaron Rodgers. During that time, the Packers' offensive line was not only one of the more consistent units but also often one of the best in the game. Bakhtiari played a massive role in that, as he played at a hall of fame level most of his career. Then came the injury issues that have plagued him his entire career, including last season, when he missed the entire year due to an injury. That alone was a big reason for his release, and it could be why he remains unsigned at the moment. Adding Bakhtiari would be an extremely risky move, knowing how long he has been hurt and that he is nowhere near football shape, but it could also be a smart move should it work out. Let's say Bakhtiari not only signs with the Bears but also shows he is healthy once he gets into football shape. What kind of player are you going to get? Well, without question, you will get a good player, not a great player, but a good player who has performed at a hall-of-fame level in the past. He was always someone the Packers could count on for most of his career and is a massive reason why Rodgers was able to put up some of the numbers he put up. Secondly, adding Bakhtiari to the tackle position would allow the Bears to move Jenkins to Guard permanently, which alone would make this offensive line better. As good as it is to have linemen play out of position and be versatile, it does tend to bite you over time, which is what the Bears have been seeing with Jenkins. Finally, Bakhtiari is a winner and knows how to win in the NFL. His no-nonsense demeanor is something this team needs, as he won't hesitate to get on guys and hold players accountable. With a roster filled with so many young players, Bakhtiari is one of those veterans that players tend to look up to, as he would bring with him the leadership that this team lacks.
