2016 Chicago Bears Preview: Special Teams

By Kevin Schroeder
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Updated: August 18, 2016

Robbie Gould is back at kicker for the Bears. He missed a few big kicks a year ago, but for just about all of his career, he’s been an extremely steady kicker. Pat O’Donnell will handle punting duties again. He was fine last year and if the special teamers can do a better job covering punts, his numbers will reflect that. Patrick Scales and Aaron Brewer are on the roster as long snappers. Scales played five games for the Bears last year. Brewer was signed as a free agent after four years in Denver. Either one would be fine. Scales is ahead on the depth chart right now.

Marc Mariani is penciled in as the kick returner after being pretty good at it a year ago, averaging a career-best 26.1 yards per return. The Bears also have Deonte Thompson available to return kicks. After being signed from the practice squad in November, he averaged 29.2 yards per kick return. He’s currently penciled in as the team’s punt returner, though he’s never done that before. Kieren Duncan did return punts at Colorado State – Pueblo a year ago and averaged 10.4 yards per return in doing so. He also averaged just over 30 yards per return on kickoffs. I wouldn’t discount the possibility of him making the 53-man roster just based on his potential in the return game. Duncan ran a 4.29 40-yard dash at his pro day. Guys like that don’t grow on trees. To me, he’s worth a look.

Twitter: @KSchroeder_312

E-mail: schroeder.giig@gmail.com