Bears’ O-Line Makeover: Thuney’s experience meets Trapilo’s potential

Ariana Pensy · Correspondent · 20 hours ago

CHICAGO - Acquiring offensive lineman Joe Thuney this offseason was part of Chicago’s attempt to rebuild the line after allowing 68 sacks last year.

At 32 years old and having won four Super Bowls, Thuney is undoubtedly the leading veteran in the offensive linemen group.

“I get teased (that) I’m the older guy. But, I think just I try and lean on my experience, seen a lot of games and different defenses and different schemes,” Thuney said. “But, there’s a lot - (center) Drew (Dalman), (guard) Jonah (Jackson), (tackle) Braxton (Jones). These guys, they played a lot of football too and they have a lot of experience and they have great insights too and as an offensive line, we’re really just a tight-knit bunch and we all want to succeed together. We’re a unit and at the end of the day, we just want to go out there and be the best we can be.”

Thuney most likely will be Chicago’s starting left guard going into this season. However, there are a lot of questions about who will be playing left tackle alongside him. One player in the running is rookie Ozzy Trapilo.

Although he is the only one in the left tackle competition without NFL experience, Trapilo is showing signs in training camp that he could be the starter.

“He’s a big guy and (he) has great technique for a big guy and so, he’s always working, always getting to practice early and trying to hone in on those details and it’s been cool to see,” Thuney said. “He’s been doing a great job getting in his playbook, learning this offense, learning the language, what we say and just here and there, there are little details of plays that whether it be combinations on runs or how we see blitzes or how we handle the pass game and he does a great job and he’s got big ears, not physically or anything, but he listens a lot and he’s been great.”

Training camp will be an important period to determine who the left tackle will be, as well as other competitions, including the backup quarterback and kicker competitions.

However, for offensive linemen in particular, it is a time to build chemistry and work on fundamentals.

“The intensity, the focus on practice. Got the ones going against the ones and really competitive periods. It’s a battle back and forth and I think that focus everyday to come in and try and improve off things you’ve seen on film and take it day-by-day, not look (too) far ahead or anything and really improve our fundamentals, improve our chemistry.”

Chicago made additions on both sides of the ball. Defensive lineman Grady Jarrett was one of those additions. Jarrett is going into his eleventh season in the league and continues to perform at a high level.

His presence also helps the offensive linemen as they have the opportunity to practice frequently against Jarrett.

“He’s been playing at a really high level for a long time. He’s got a great combination of speed, smarts, strength. So, he can do a lot of things as a defensive lineman and it really makes you rely heavy on your fundamentals,” Thuney said. “You have to execute each play against him and as an offensive line, communicate just so everyone’s on the same page where he is. But, he definitely makes us better.”