Ryan Poles' Offensive Line Preferences Evident at Scouting Combine
While nothing is certain, it would come as a shock to most Chicago Bears fans if the team did not select an offensive lineman early in this year's draft. The unit's performance in 2022 was abysmal, giving up 55 sacks. General Manager Ryan Poles is expected to address the problem from various angles, starting with free agency next month. While he may not use the team's first-round pick on the position, it is likely that he will reserve either the second or third round to focus on it. There will be numerous options available who can make immediate contributions. This is where the scouting combine comes in. Like any other GM, Poles has specific prototypes for prospects at each position. The offensive line is no exception. The combine is the best source for measuring size, strength, and speed. I examined Poles' track record for the position, from his time as an executive with the Kansas City Chiefs to his first year in Chicago. One aspect that immediately stood out was the size requirements.
Linemen should be between 6'4" to 6'7" and weigh no more than 315 lbs. Braxton Jones and Ja'Tyre Carter, the only Bears picks to play in 2022, met those criteria. Another noteworthy factor was the short shuttle times. The higher draft picks (1st-3rd rounds) had times ranging from 4.5 to 4.44 seconds. This drill measures short-area quickness, lateral movement, flexibility, and the speed at which a player can change directions. Poles emphasized the importance of quickness and mobility. Last year, only seven out of 41 linemen had times in that range, and four of them were picked in the first three rounds.
The 40-yard dash, vertical jump, and broad jump are irrelevant when it comes to Poles' offensive line decisions. The crucial factors to watch are height, weight, length, and short shuttle. It also doesn't hurt if a player can perform at least 25 reps on the bench press. If a player meets the criteria of being between 6'4" and 6'7", weighing between 300-315 lbs, and running the shuttle in 4.5 seconds or less, it's reasonable to assume that he will be high on the Bears' draft board come April. This should make things more exciting when the draft arrives. We will have a shortlist of names that Ryan Poles will target in the first three rounds. Digging into the data reveals specific trends that make the draft easier to project since most GMs rarely stray outside their prototypes.
