Wondering about a player, a past game or another issue involving the Bears? Senior writer Larry Mayer answers a variety of questions from fans on ChicagoBears.com.
Who would you say has an edge in the kicking competition right now?
From @nickerzzz on Twitter
I wouldn't say that Eddy Pineiro or Elliott Fry has separated himself from the other through the first 10 days or so of training camp. I've kept a tally every day and by my count Pineiro has made 84.8 percent of his kicks (39 of 46) and Fry has hit 83.7 percent (41 of 49), so they truly are neck-and-neck. The good news is that both have performed at a high level and appear to be capable of kicking in the NFL. It will be interesting to see if they can continue to excel once the preseason games begin Thursday when the Bears host the Panthers at Soldier Field. If either has a slight edge, I would say it would be Pineiro based on his 12-of-12 performance at the Bears' Family Fest last Saturday night at Soldier Field and the fact that he appears to possess a slightly stronger leg. But the competition is way too close to call at this point.
Which undrafted rookie has the best chance of making the opening day roster?
From @Redcookiemonst on Twitter_
I think it could be guard Alex Bars, who is competing for a backup offensive line position. Bars started 32 games in four seasons at Notre Dame. He spent his first three years in South Bend being tutored by Bears offensive line coach Harry Hiestand. Bars has experience at tackle and guard and likely would have been drafted had he had not suffered a season-ending knee injury in Notre Dame's fifth game last year. If Bars performs well in preseason games and is able to stay healthy, I think he could earn a spot on the Bears' 53-man roster.
Why is David Montgomery third on the Bears' depth chart?
From @JayY1118
I wouldn't put a whole lot of stock in the first unofficial depth chart of the preseason. It's released primarily to show who is competing at which positions. Rookies are typically listed behind veterans because teams want their young players to earn their way up the depth chart, and that's most likely the case with David Montgomery being behind veterans Tarik Cohen and Mike Davis at running back. I expect Montgomery to play a major role on the Bears offense this season and get a lot of opportunities in preseason games to show what he can do.
