Usually, when a player gets drafted to the NFL, they hope to stay in the same position they made it to the pros in. Quarterbacks want to stay quarterbacks. Cornerbacks want to stay cornerbacks. However, history shows that more than a few guys who hear their names called in April will end up switching positions at some point. Teams view their skillsets as better fits elsewhere. Corners may move to safety. Wide receivers may become running backs. Linebackers could shift to edge rushers. The most common area for position switches is the offensive line. Few know that better than Chicago Bears 6th round pick Luke Newman.
Between Holy Cross and Michigan State, he shifted positions multiple times in his college career. He dabbled at tackle and center before ending up at guard last year with the Spartans. Most experts felt that spot was the best for him because he seemed to mesh with it best. However, Newman understands the NFL is a different animal. If he wants to carve out a long career in the pros, he must play the position that fits his skill set the best. For him, that will require another position switch.
“Guard has been more of my natural feel this past season,” Newman said. “But really this offseason the primary focus has been center. I definitely have a good understanding of how to play the position intellectually. It’s a new playbook here and there’s an adjustment period for that as well.
“I really think that center, all in all, fits more my body type. It’s more of what my strengths are. I have that guard flexibility as well. But I really look forward to learning and adapting to center a lot more.”
Newman understands his path with the Chicago Bears.
Guards in the NFL tend to be around 6'4 and 315 lbs. The Chicago Bears' rookie is 6'3 and 308 lbs. So he is somewhat undersized already. Throw in his 31-inch arms, making him a matchup issue against bigger defensive linemen. However, that changes at center. Size matters less than quickness, athleticism, and intelligence. Luke Newman has all three of those traits. He is right. Switching makes the most sense. The problem is he faces a tough battle to stick on the roster with that decision. Chicago already has a starting center with Drew Dalman. Then you have Doug Kramer, who has more experience, and former 3rd round pick Ricky Stromberg, who is also ready to compete. Newman must somehow outduel those two if he wants any hope of cracking the roster.
