July 22--The new Bears coaching staff is optimistic that a budding second-year cornerback can emerge as a star. But how will the other pieces fit together in the secondary?
Currently on roster: 11.
Projected on final roster: 5-6.
Roster locks: Kyle Fuller, Tim Jennings.
Good bet: Alan Ball.
On the bubble: Sherrick McManis, Al Louis-Jean, Demontre Hurst, Tracy Porter.
Practice squad candidates: Jacoby Glenn.
Camp depth: Terrance Mitchell, Bryce Callahan, Qumain Black.
Biggest offseason developments: After 12 seasons and 156 regular-season games as a Bear, Charles Tillman left in free agency, signing a one-year, $2-million deal with the Panthers. The Bears signed Ball to a one-year, $3-million contract.
What to like: New defensive coordinator Vic Fangio likes his outside cornerbacks long and athletic and capable of being physical in coverage. So it's not a shock that both Fangio and coach John Fox took an immediate liking to second-year corner Kyle Fuller.
The Bears' top draft pick in 2014, Fuller took his lumps at times as a rookie, enduring inevitable growing pains as a 14-game starter. But he also showed his toughness and playmaking ability and finished the year with four interceptions, three forced fumbles and nine pass break-ups.
Fangio's new defense will challenge Fuller to be a big-time competitor in coverage. He will be left alone often and asked to showcase his athleticism, awareness and confidence. Fuller also understands he will need to take a step up as a leader.
Secondary coach Ed Donatell, a longtime assistant in the league, has been impressed with Fuller's approach.
"I really like his makeup as a person," Donatell said. "He's a hard worker. He's very serious. And he has a nice skill set. This kid has size and speed and he has good ball skills."
The Bears will need Fuller's ascension to continue to stabilize a pass defense that finished 30th in the league in yards allowed last season (264.4 per game).
Preseason questions: Aside from Fuller, what exactly do the Bears have at cornerback? The coaching staff spent the spring and early summer identifying what each of their players does best while also getting a feel for how they fit together.
Said Donatell: "It's a human chemistry experiment. How can you make the sum of those parts really strong?"
Jennings, entering the second year of the four-year, $22.4 million contract extension he signed in 2014, would seem to be a nice piece for the puzzle. But at 5-foot-8 and 185 pounds, Jennings doesn't project as a fit on the outside in Fangio's defense and spent much of this spring taking practice reps in the slot.
The move inside hasn't been a seamless one for the nine-year veteran, who has been to two Pro Bowls while spending most of his career as an outside corner in Cover-2 based schemes. So Jennings will press forward in camp polishing his slot corner skills while vying to earn opportunities on the outside as well.
Ball, a 6-2, 197-pound veteran has starting potential but didn't practice with the team during organized team activities and minicamp as he has battled a shoulder injury.
McManis, who has been a special teams standout for the Bears the past three seasons, will be given an opportunity to compete for a starting spot outside. So too will Al Louis-Jean, who flashed at times last season when called upon in relief.
The June signing of Porter was a flier to be certain. The 28-year-old wasn't able to stay healthy last season with the Redskins and is now with his fifth team in five seasons. But Bears general manager Ryan Pace saw Porter's ability and intelligence up close during the corner's four seasons with the Saints from 2008-11.
Still, considering the offensive talent across the division, the Bears' depth at cornerback leaves a lot to be desired.
dwiederer@tribpub.com
