Juan Castillo Now In Pure I-Told-You-So Mode On Larry Borom

Months ago Chicago Bears offensive line coach Juan Castillo stood before the media and stated that Larry Borom was going to be a starter in the NFL. He didn't care the young tackle from Missouri was only a 5th round pick. His mixture of size, athleticism, and natural feet made him so much better than people gave him credit for. When the rookie flashed consistently in training camp? It was even further confirmation. People weren't quite ready to buy into that idea at the time. Not a surprise. Borom was a late round pick and it's only natural for a line coach to talk up his guys. After eight games, those same people are starting to realize Castillo may not have been embellishing. After two starts against San Francisco and Pittsburgh at right tackle, Borom has given up just two total pressures. This despite going against Nick Bosa and T.J. Watt.

It's hard not to be impressed by that.

One person who was only too happy to gloat about it when asked? Castillo. The Bears media caught up with him during the week and asked about Borom's play thus far. Especially against two star pass rushers in his first two starts. The Bears O-line maestro wasn't surprised according to Adam Jahns of The Athletic.

“Here’s a young man going against these real dudes,” Castillo said. “Well, what you have to remember is Larry is a real dude, too. When you’re 6-5 and a half, 341 pounds, you’re an athlete, you’re a real dude. There are real dudes going against real dudes.”

If anything, the challenge of facing guys like Bosa and Watt right away was a blessing in disguise for Borom. In addition to being two athletic freaks, those two are also well-known for their terrific pass rush technique. Facing them was a great education for a young tackle.

“I think that gives him a good feel about his technique, his fundamentals,” Castillo said. “It also teaches him where he has to go because he wasn’t perfect. Now he knows what he has to do to grow and get better.”

The optimism with Borom is palpable. He looks like a long-term starter for this offensive line. Especially as he continues to hone his craft and build experience. Together with Justin Fields and Khalil Herbert? The 2021 draft class has not disappointed. Even better is the fact that they may get 2nd round pickTeven Jenkins back into the mix as well. [video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Larry-Borom-vs.-49ers-2.mp4"][/video] [video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Fields-to-Robinson-on-3rd-amp-2-DaBears-CHIvsPIT-on-ESPN-.mp4"][/video]

Juan Castillo deserves some credit for his work

Despite getting handed a less than ideal situation, the Bears offensive line coach has done some nice work to at least make his group serviceable. He pulled Jason Peters out of retirement when the left tackle situation reached a crisis point. Then he navigated around Germain Ifedi getting injured twice at right tackle with a mixture of Borom and Elijah Wilkinson. It hasn't always been pretty, but he has done the job. It would be quite an accomplishment if Juan Castillo helped the Bears find not one but two starting offensive tackles in the same draft. Borom already looks like one and he was the later of the two picks. If Jenkins fully recovers from his back injury and resembles the player he was at Oklahoma State? Then this offensive front might be in business moving forward once they find a more viable option at center.

Will Castillo be part of it?

That is a tougher question. It's not a secret Matt Nagy is in danger of being fired after this season. If that happens, there is a strong chance his replacement will seek to bring in his own staff. Including an offensive line coach. Borom and Jenkins may have to forge ahead without the man who helped bring them here. Another reminder the NFL can be a cruel business.