Has Paul Lasike Done Enough to Earn a Chicago Bears Roster Spot?
The Chicago Bears completed their preseason with a 21-7 win over the Cleveland Browns on Friday afternoon, NZT. The last game of the preseason and with that the last chance that many players had to impress the coaching staff. For some this will have been a launching pad into a successful career, for others it may be the last competitive game of football they ever play.
Among those battling for a spot in the final 53 is kiwi Paul Lasike. Of course, you’ve probably already read this piece and know all about it but here’s the quick recap.
Previously in the career of Paul Lasike… scored a touchdown last preseason with the Arizona Cardinals, cut by the Cardinals, signed to the Chicago Bears practice squad, signed a futures contract, split time in 2016 preseason with veteran fullback Darrel Young, Young gets cut, Lasike plays in the Bears’ last preseason game…
Cheers to the voiceover guy for that one.
So that’s the state of it and as the last remaining FB on the roster, Lasike had the chance to impress with all of the reps for once. The Bears seemed pretty committed to having a fullback on their 2016 team as of a few months ago but it has been noticeable how little they’ve chosen to use them during their games. But maybe that’s just a situational thing. For example, Lasike saw time on the field in a couple different short and goal situations. He also got a couple of rare chances further down the field but only later in the game which might also tell a tale, given the initial stages tend to be a chance for the starters to get some game time and deeper into the games, the fringe blokes get a run.
That’s fine, Lasike probably is a fringe guy – otherwise this article wouldn’t exist. What sets Lasike apart from other prospective fellas is that he is also a talent on special teams. That was where we saw him mostly in the first half and he was a regular on the punt team. Even made a tackle, though he wasn’t quite the lead gunner there.
The thing about gridiron is that it’s a sport built around taking small chances. Lasike’s not a quarterback, he’s not gonna be on the field for every offensive snap. But then when he does get an opportunity, the coaches are going to be watching closely even if there are only a couple of those chances that do occur. If you can impress there then you’re in with a shot and there were two possessions on offence where Lasike found himself with a big involvement. One in the first half and one in the second half.
Scores are mostly irrelevant in preseason given how many players are taking the field, how that time is shared out and all that. Bears fans will be happy to have won this one, given they’d lost their three preseason ties before that but ultimately it’s about the little things. Still, after giving up a touchdown to go behind 7-3 late in the first quarter, it’s always nice to respond in turn.
That TD they gave up came with a short field after a punt return went awry with a couple of players hitting the deck under pressure and the returned accidentally kicking the loose ball out of bounds, making it live and thus Browns’ ball. Lasike was on the field for the return but was a blocker up the park further and ran into camera view a few seconds after the teammates’ error. Here he is, #47:
Anyway, the Bears started at the 20 after B.J. Daniels, who’d been the dude to kick the ball out, returned the kick to the touchback mark exactly. Brian Hoyer completes for nine yards. 2nd & 1 at their own 29 and they hand the ball off to Paul Lasike… three yards around his left guard for the first down. Solid, lad. He’s had rare chances to run the ball and although he hasn’t busted any big ones, he’s made good enough use that they aren’t afraid to turn to him. Lasike isn’t fast, not by running back standards. His best attribute is his power and this was the second time this preseason that he’s forced his way through for a firstie. The previous one came on a third down run.
Then, after the Bears had gotten themselves deep in the red zone thanks to a pair of penalty flags, Lasike got a little more game time. Specifically on a first and goal set at the one yard line, where he mashed a big hole in the defensive line for Ka'Deem Carey to run through. Carey and Lasike’s timing was a bit off with Lasike perhaps leading too far ahead (or Carey lagging too far behind) but overall that’s a big positive. See it below at 0:42.
To see him putting that drop-shoulder running style into his blocking is a very handy option for head coach John Fox and his team to turn to. It won’t make him an every down blocker because they’re making it clear that they prefer two tight ends to that degree, though every now and then (and particularly in short yardage situations, particularly near the goal line) it’s a nice alternative to have a more forceful lead blocker.
And if you’re doubting his force then take a look at this blockbuster in that second half set:
Lasike doesn’t only make a big 25 yard gain here, but he does it displaying a few versatile elements to his game. First off, the hands to make the catch were flawless. There’s that Church College first XI skillset right there, son. Then the absolute demolition of the defensive back there, mate what a hit. You can almost feel it when he hits the deck. Lasike has such a low centre of gravity there, he may as well be running horizontal. All brutal stuff… but then none of that would have been possible if he hadn’t been able to push his way off his man and spin left to get open in the first place. Really nice play.
Later on in that possession, in fact the next two plays actually, they rewarded him with a couple of runs on first and second down. The first he made five yards, the second only one with the goal line in clear sight. Then he reverted to lead blocking duties for Jacquizz Rodgers but they were stopped a yard short of the touchdown, handover on downs.
Perhaps a missed opportunity there in not converting. But on the whole it was the kind of game that Lasike needed to show what he could offer in and that’s mostly what he did. He’s still eligible for the practice squad for one more year if he misses the cut, that’s probably the worst case scenario now, though it was already looking like he might be better than 50/50 odds at making the 53 and that should have been strengthened.
Hey, if they want a fullback, they only have one bloke left on the roster. There’s no reason they can’t find one from somewhere else but in Lasike they have a player that they’ve groomed themselves for the role. Right now their roster stands at 75 men and that will be reduced to 53 within two days. Sunday morning New Zealand time is when we oughta know by.