Dan Roshar was the first name to surface for the Chicago Bears' all-important offensive line coach position. He'd worked with Dan Campbell in New Orleans, and that is how new head coach Ben Johnson became connected to him. Until now, other names haven't surfaced, leading some to believe it's a foregone conclusion that Roshar will get the job soon. However, that isn't entirely true. While he remains the favorite, the team has spoken to other potential candidates.
Three, to be exact.
A source revealed to SM that Kyle Flood (Texas), Justin Frye (Ohio State), and Joe Rudolph (Notre Dame) are all names they've spoken to. This shouldn't be a surprise. All three programs have been churning out quality offensive linemen for years. He developed Landon Dickerson at Alabama and now has Kelvin Banks and Cameron Williams lined up as likely 1st round picks this year. Frye worked with Paris Johnson and Dawand Jones with the Buckeyes. Rudolph has been churning out linemen for years. Ryan Ramczyk, David Edwards, Tyler Biadasz, and Joe Tippmann all worked with him at Wisconsin.
The Chicago Bears have a method to their madness.
While those three men are candidates for the job, there is another reason the Bears wanted to speak with them. Each has a sharp eye for offensive line talent. Picking their brains about what to look for and avoid can be invaluable to an organization that has struggled to consistently identify good blockers for years. Over the past three off-seasons, GM Ryan Poles has managed to secure only one truly viable starter for his front five. That is former 1st round pick Darnell Wright. Everybody else is either bad or replaceable.
After allowing 67 sacks this season, it is a foregone conclusion the Chicago Bears will invest heavily in fixing the offensive line. It starts with finding a good coach. If it's Roshar, good. He is considered one of the top names in the industry. However, that is only half the battle. Next comes the harder part: finding good players. It won't be shocking if the Bears put forward extensive money and multiple high draft choices to fill the void.
