Key Bears Training Camp Battle #5: Jonathan Bullard vs. Jaye Howard

The Chicago Bears training camp battle list for 2017 appears to be stacked. A number of positions are up for grabs and there are some pretty talented players trying to secure them. This countdown will focus on the five most intriguing of the lot. What better place to start than on defense where the lineup is in store for a considerable shift. The secondary gets all the attention but the defensive line is where the Bears really need to perform this year. Their run defense was atrocious last season. Inconsistent play and injury up front played a part in that. Two of the three positions are locked up. Akiem Hicks is coming off the best season of his career at defensive end. Eddie Goldman is head and shoulder above the other options at nose tackle. That just leaves the other defensive end spot. There are a number of names vying for it including veteran Mitch Unrein and intriguing second-year convert from outside linebacker Roy Robertson-Harris. However, the two names to watch will be Jonathan Bullard and Jaye Howard.

DL Bears training camp battle participant:  Jonathan Bullard

It wouldn't be a surprise if coaches are hoping Bullard takes off this year. The 2016 third round pick flashed loads of potential at times with his run-stopping prowess and explosive lower body. Unfortunately like many rookies he struggled with consistency. For every good play he had there were two or three he could've done better.

Word is he's put in a ton of work during the offseason. Instagram posts indicated he's working with former Bears defensive end Alex Brown on his technique and fundamentals. Given the success Brown had, that can only prove helpful to Bullard. The possibilities of his upside along with Hicks and Goldman is hard not to get excited about.

DL Bears training camp battle participant:  Jaye Howard

That said the job won't be handed to him. GM Ryan Pace and head coach John Fox believe in competition. It's for that reason they signed veteran Jaye Howard. Prior to last season the man was enjoying a career breakout in Kansas City. He had 5.5 sacks in 2015 and was one of the best run defenders at his position. A hip injury hit him hard last season though and he was released by Kansas City. The Bears are banking that he can make a full recovery. If so they might have one of the most underrated 3-4 ends in the league.

This is shaping up to be quite a showdown. Both men still have significant upside. Both have stated they have something to prove this year. Pushing each other to get better will only help the Bears defense in the long run. The determining factor will likely be whether Howard is fully recovered from the hip issue. Such things can take awhile to overcome. That should give the edge to Bullard, presuming he makes the expected jump all NFL players do in their second years. Still, don't make any presumptions about this one.