Josh

Beekman

They’re camp bodies signed for practice purposes to bring Jacksonville to the 90-man roster limit. Williams and Beekman replace Lee Evans and Taylor Price.

Beekman is a thickly-built mauler who started three years at BC and can play both guard and center. He could be Ruben Brown’s replacement in 2008.

It was widely assumed that Omiyale would take over starting duties after he was signed away from Carolina. Beekman, however, fared surprisingly well in the running game last season and will be given a chance to keep the job.

The offensive line is taking a lot of heat for Matt Forte’s woeful 3.4 yards per carry average. With three new faces in Omiyale, LT Orlando Pace and RT Chris Williams, the line has not worked together well. As the line gels, Forte’s numbers will rise.

Omiyale started the first preseason game and has been running with the starters in camp. Beekman, the incumbent, becomes a very solid backup. The addition of Orlando Pace and Omiyale this offseason has the Bears’ line looking much improved on paper, particularly in pass protection.

Though Omiyale was signed away from the Panthers for $14M in February, Beekman has a “stranglehold” on the starting job. It’s good news for Matt Forte, as Beekman was the Bears’ strongest run-blocking lineman last season.

We’d say this was a blow with left tackle Chris Williams (back) also out, but Metcalf isn’t very good and top backup Josh Beekman could end up being a better option anyways. The Bears shouldn’t rush Metcalf back.

Frank Omiyale and Beekman are flip-flopping as the Bears struggle to find consistency along their line continues. Beekman is a better run blocker while Omiyale has the edge in pass protection, but neither is very good, period.

Kreutz has been a Bear for 10 years and been to six Pro Bowls. But he’s been in sharp decline and taken a lot of the blame for the line’s miserable performance this season. Josh Beekman is probably the Bears center of the future.

This is probably how Chicago should’ve started the season, but it was hard for GM Jerry Angelo to admit his $14 million mistake on Omiyale. Beekman is a better run blocker and should help create holes for Matt Forte. Omiyale can play four positions on the line and is best suited as a versatile sub.