One bit of fallout from the first preseason game — any preseason game, really — is inevitably a bit of position-shuffling. In the case of Bears’ game against the Miami Dolphins, some of that shuffling was in process even before kickoff.
Note: The Bears have shown so many personnel lineups through practices that it would be difficult to definitively declare starters, particularly in the front seven, without knowing the exact defensive call or situation.
Safety has been a position the height of turmoil for much of the past decade for the Bears. It hasn’t settled down all that much, even without Chris Conte and Major Wright around.
Antrel Rolle was among the priority offseason signings, and he is ensconced at one safety spot. The other one has seen Ryan Mundy, who was second in tackles for the 2014 Bears and tied for team high in interceptions (four), go from starter to behind Brock Vereen, back to No. 1 and then back to backup (with Vereen) as rookie Adrian Amos came off a strong Miami game and into the starting lineup. For now.
“We thought enough of him to draft him,” coach John Fox said. “I think he's had opportunities just like all the other safeties to play and be evaluated and make plays. He's earned where he is.
“I don't know if that's the way it'll stay. It's not where you start the race, it's where you finish it. He's earned that, and we'll go from there.”
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Sam Acho and Pernell McPhee were the outside linebackers with the No. 1 unit for much of the early camp. But Jared Allen was No. 1 on the first depth chart and started against the Dolphins.
Then Acho delivered the best defensive performance — sack, tackle for loss, quarterback hit, interception, pass defensed — and was back in the mix with the apparent No. 1’s this weekend.
“Training camp is a time for evaluation; every practice, every game, every scrimmage is evaluated, so this is just the beginning of the evaluation process,” Acho said.
“It’s not about starting. At the end of the day, it’s about being productive. As a player I want to be productive, and then everything will take care of itself.”