Considering the fact they were only 30th in the league defending the pass last season, coupled with all the injuries they've endured already at both corner and safety, the Monsters of the Midway kept 11 defensive backs on the final 53-man roster.

Coach Lovie Smith has typically gone with nine DBs and sometimes 10 during his tenure in the Windy City, but there were a few extra slots available this time around with only two quarterbacks instead of three, one fullback instead of two and six linebackers instead of seven. On-the-bubble players like rookie cornerback D.J. Moore and free-agent safety Josh Bullocks made the team as a result, even though both of them were in danger of ending up on the cutting-room floor after a so-so training camp and preseason.

At corner, it's a good sign that the Bears lifted Charles Tillman off the physically unable to perform list on cut-down day. If they hadn't, he would have been forced to stay on PUP for the first six weeks of the regular season. He and Zack Bowman are going to be the starters once everybody is healthy, meaning Nathan Vasher will be nothing more than an expensive backup. Corey Graham remains in the mix at nickel back after a solid preseason, while Trumaine McBride is a special teamer at this point. Plan on Moore being a game-day inactive unless injuries pop up again.

And then at safety, Kevin Payne and rookie Al Afalava played well together during the exhibition slate at free and strong safety, respectively. Still, Danieal Manning could move one of them to the bench if he holds on to his starting job at free, as Smith has hinted. A better scenario might be keeping Payne and Afalava where they are and moving Manning back to his role as the nickel back, especially if he's going to continue being effective as a kick returner. Craig Steltz sat atop the depth chart at free safety for the better part of the offseason program, although he was lucky to make the club after a less-than-impressive summer. Bullocks packs a punch as a tackler but doesn't offer much in terms of coverage skills.

While injuries and ineffectiveness have riddled Chicago DBs ever since Super Bowl XLI, a strong showing from the D-line in the preseason is encouraging – increased pressure will help take some of the burden off both the corners and safeties.