Ozzy Trapilo Revelation Now Makes Him The Favorite To Steal Left Tackle Job

People weren't convinced when told Ozzy Trapilo was a legitimate option for the Chicago Bears at left tackle. They had some good reasons to think that. For one, the Boston College standout is a 2nd round pick. Expecting such players to start immediately at such a crucial position is unlikely. Another is the fact that he spent the past two years starting at right tackle in college. Normally, players switching positions either go from left tackle to right tackle or from tackle to guard. Why would Trapilo think he can make the rare transition from right to left?

It stems from his preparation. After his first minicamp practice, the rookie explained that versatility would be the cornerstone to his hopes of playing early in the NFL. While he spent loads of time on his normal responsibilities at right tackle, he also took extra time after practice to take reps at left tackle. That work helped prepare him for the eventuality that any team drafting him might want to plug him there. Sure enough, the Bears have opened the door. Now he's equipped to walk through it.

Ozzy Trapilo already has the mental side of the game down.

That is by far the toughest part. Plenty of young players have the talent to succeed at the NFL level. Many of them aren't willing to put in the work to master the craft. Few positions are more demanding than the offensive line. One must understand hand-fighting, footwork, blitz recognition, stunts, drop depth, and how to pick off defenders in the open field on the run. It can be overwhelming. Trapilo got lucky in that sense. He's spent his college career learning under a coaching staff littered with NFL veterans. Head coach Bill O'Brien won lots of games with New England and Houston. Offensive line coach Matt Applebaum spent five seasons in the league.

Few were better prepared for the transition than Ozzy Trapilo, and it shows. He looked smooth and sharp during drills, and nothing seemed to overwhelm him. It will take time to see how far along he truly is. Pads don't go on until the end of July. Still, it is hard not to feel he is the biggest threat to Braxton Jones on this roster. He's much more polished than Kiran Amegadjie and has the size teams often look for. Add the intelligence, and that typically makes a starting offensive lineman.