Bears position preview: Specialists

Biggest offseason developments: Former Broncos long snapper Aaron Brewer signed a minimum-salary-benefit contract worth $760,000 for one season. The Bears signed undrafted free-agent punter Ben LeCompte out of North Dakota State.

What to like: Kicker Robbie Gould seemed to be in a good mental place this offseason, having moved on from two potential game-winning field goals he missed in consecutive December losses to the 49ers and Redskins. Overall, Gould made a career-high 33 field goals last season, but, of course, the misses are what linger. He made 84.6 percent of his field-goal attempts, his seventh-best rate in 11 seasons. “I think I had a really good year,” Gould said in April. “I think there are a lot of things that I can learn from last year that can help me prepare differently this year.” One change: Gould spent the offseason eating junk food to try to put on weight. Although he declined to explain what he hoped to gain by adding weight (presumably strength and durability), he said he wants to weigh 191 pounds. (He was listed at 185 last season). In punter Pat O’Donnell’s second NFL season, he improved his net average from 37.7 yards to 39.7. He also improved his gross average from 43.8 to 44.2. It’s common for kickers and punters to ascend a steep learning curve in their first few NFL seasons as they gain confidence and develop consistency. O’Donnell, then, has another opportunity to make more gains.

Biggest question: Who will win the long snapping job?

The Bears’ search for Patrick Mannelly’s successor continues for the third straight training camp. Scales replaced Thomas Gafford last season for the final five games. To compete with Scales, the Bears signed Brewer, a four-year veteran, who spent his first three NFL seasons under coach John Fox and special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers in Denver. He was a member of the Super Bowl champions last season.

Fresh face: LeCompte graduated from Barrington High and grew up rooting for Gould and the Bears. He was a two-time FCS All-American whose 44.55-yard gross average ranked fourth in FCS history.

You should know: Touchbacks will be spotted at the 25-yard line this season instead of the 20. How might that affect the Bears’ strategy on kickoffs and kickoff returns? “You don’t really know how everything’s going to be affected until you start playing the game and see what everybody’s thoughts and ideas are,” Rodgers said.

Quote of note: “Putting on weight for me is difficult. I’m not a junk food eater. I’ve been able to become a garbage guy. It’s kind of disgusting. But for me … before I left for the offseason, we put a really good plan in place and I’ve followed that pretty much to a T.” — Gould on his weight-gain initiative

Big number: 24.2 — Average starting field position (yard line) of Bears’ opponents after a kickoff last season, worst in the NFL.

Projected on final roster: 3.

Roster locks: Kicker Robbie Gould.

Good bet: Punter Pat O’Donnell.

On the bubble: Long snappers Aaron Brewer and Patrick Scales.

Camp depth: Ben LeCompte.