BOURBONNAIS -- Charles Leno continues to exceed expectations. The Chicago Bears' 2014 seventh-round decide upon was pressed into service at left tackle in Week four final season for injured nine-year veteran Jermon Bushrod. Leno played so well that he held on to the job of preserving quarterback Jay Cutler's blind side, even after Bushrod, a two-time seasoned Bowl player, again to fitness a month later.
Now, Leno seems entrenched.
He wound up beginning the closing 13 games closing yr and carried out at a excessive adequate stage that the rebuilding Bears saw no need to handle his position within the draft or free company. Two veteran free-agent indoors offensive linemen were delivered to the roster -- Ted Larsen and Amini Silatolu -- and a further free agent, Bobby Massie, changed into signed to birth at appropriate tackle. Larsen is now the beginning core, and 2d-round opt for Cody Whitehair is the starting left defend.
However the Bears were capable of stand pat at left tackle, and that they love how Leno has dealt with that vital spot, in spite of the fact that he's not getting a good deal love from backyard his own group. "Charles Leno is probably probably the most underrated offensive lineman in football," spoke of Bears offensive line educate Dave Magazu, a 14th-yr NFL assistant. "He comes out day by day, works his tail off, and he's a student of the online game."
Flying under the radar for NFL left tackles always is a good issue, seeing that their names are most commonly heard after they enable their quarterbacks to be sacked. So the 6-foot-3, 305-pound Leno is fairly certain it be a fine element to be underrated. "It be great, I imply, thanks?" a smiling Leno spoke of when requested about his reaction to Magazu's evaluation. "What am I speculated to say to that? i love being underrated; this is the category of person that i am. "I love to fly beneath the radar, I do not like to be pointed out the entire time, I in fact don't. that's no longer anything for me.
"I admire when my teammates discuss me; i like when my coaches provide me compliment within the assembly rooms. I definitely do not care concerning the outside noise, but if the instruct says i used to be probably the most underrated it is type of cool … I wager." Cutler has probably the most to lose if Leno doesn't do his job simply, and he concurs with the O-line instruct. Cutler changed into sacked 29 times in 15 games final season, the 2nd-fewest sacks per delivery he has persisted in seven seasons with the Bears.
"He is quiet," Cutler observed of Leno. "he's underrated. however you placed on the movie, and every single play he is doing his job. I believe each person's starting to take notice of what type of player he is, and he will proceed to get enhanced. he is nevertheless a young man." Leno, drafted 246th standard out of Boise State after starting 39 straight video games for the Broncos, is barely 24. His best arm length (34 three/eight inches), agility and athleticism were offset through some method and energy shortcomings, however he has labored complicated to enhance in these areas.
Because the Bears' offensive line already has suffered a season-ending damage to beginning middle Hroniss Grasu, diminishing what little depth there changed into, or not it's counting on Leno more than ever. "They recognize what kind of adult i'm, and that i'm the category of person who goes to work daily," he referred to. "I simply are looking to be the ideal grownup I can also be. They comprehend that is my work ethic; it comes (from) inside me." Magazu believes the optimal is yet to return for Leno, who as a late-round choose beneath contract via subsequent season is likely one of the surest bargains within the NFL.
"As long as guys pay attention and that they work at it after which they have the ability set, they have got a chance to become greater," Magazu talked about. "he will hold getting stronger as a result of he's athletic and he's sensible. "He has some shortcomings like each man does, but I do not suppose they're even near the positives." Provided that coaches and teammates comprehend that, or not it's all decent with Leno.
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