Thread: Tice looks for line to make 'hard corrections'

Thayer: Offensive line misses Williams

Former Bears guard Tom Thayer can sympathize with what the current offensive line went through this week and Sunday night when Jay Cutler was sacked nine times in the first half.

“It was back in 1989 against the Vikings in Minnesota, said Thayer who provides color commentary and insight on Bears broadcast on WBBM 780-AM. “In the third quarter they flashed on the scoreboard that the Bears' offensive line had given up a total of 7 sacks (all season) going into that game, but tonight they have already allowed 8. You don't forget that.

But Thayer believes there is hope for this year's O-line.

“I think it's as much the growing pains of an offense as anything, Thayer said of last week's failure to protect Cutler, which he said was a team failure. “If everybody could get 33 percent of the blame that would be fair. No phase is exempt from blame. It's not just the line. There are times when Jay held the ball too long and times when the running back could have provided better protection.

Thayer believes that rookie tackle J'Marcus Webb and guard Edwin Williams could see more playing time in the future and that the entire group misses left tackle Chris Williams, who is still out with a hamstring injury.

“Chris is a much different athlete at left tackle than Frank (Omiyale) is, Thayer said. “Frank (normally the right tackle) is going to give you everything he's got, but as far as the athleticism of the position, he's not Chris. I think that's why you're not going to see the best from this offensive until for six or eight weeks.


By the numbers:

Not only will Todd Collins be the oldest starting quarterback in Bears history, but he'll wear No. 10 in a game that will be played on 10/10/10.


Collins will be 39 next month. Dave Krieg was 38 years and 63 days old when he started for the Bears in the 1996 season finale against the Buccaneers in Tampa. Greg Landry was 38 years and 2 days old when he made his only start for the Bears in the 1984 season finale against the Lions in Detroit.

Mullin: What if Webb moved into the starting lineup?

By John Mullin
CSNChicago.com

There is a time-tested axiom for rookies in the NFL that every player you see on Sunday will be as good as the best player you faced your entire senior year and maybe entire college career.

“That is a fair statement,” rookie tackle J’Marcus Webb told CSNChicago.com Thursday, laughing. “That is about right.”

Indications have been increasing that Webb will move into the starting lineup Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, taking over at right tackle for Kevin Shaffer. The move will accomplish multiple objectives:

. Allow coach Mike Tice to have Shaffer available to fill in at every position except center;

. Shake up a line that was reeling after the 10-sack performance by the New York Giants;

. Add heft to a running game that is not only one of the worst (31st) in the NFL but also potentially one of the worst in franchise history. No team in the last 40-plus years, including the 1-13 team of 1969 has run the ball as poorly (68.8 yards per game);

. Give Webb prime experience before Chris Williams returns to left tackle and coaches move Frank Omiyale back to right tackle.

Webb has been working in on a per-series basis beginning with the Green Bay game. Inserting a rookie in a game on Monday Night Football, against an undefeated division opponent, was a franchise statement.

Webb, 6-7, 328 pounds, played at Texas, Navarro (Tex.) College and West Texas A&M and started 24 of his 25 games at West Texas. But there was still the inevitable transition to the NFL; you’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto, or West Texas for that matter. Not only the talent level but also the professionalism and effort have been eye-opening.

“I feel like [opposing defensive linemen] are getting paid well to do what they do,” Webb said. “You definitely take it into consideration when they’re coming off the ball so it’s definitely a little different than I expected.

“Even the little guys can bull-rush you. They’ve got the leverage and they’re coming.”

One problem is that Webb was not a No. 1 tackle in the offseason, training camp or preseason. That meant generally matching up against backups even on his own team, rather than vs. Julius Peppers or starting ends the way Omiyale and Williams were.

The way Webb is dealing with that is take no detail for granted.

“I take the approach that it’s a job and I’ve got to work hard at it for years,” Webb said. “I’ve been playing football for years so that’s nothing really new except for the fact that every team’s different and you prepare differently for the ultimate goal of winning.”

missing a below average lt hurt? I tell you what Chargers missing McNeil hasnt hurt and he is an exprobowler. Patriots missing Mankins hasnt hurt and he is an ex probowler. When you have crap on the oline it hurts. When your crap gets hurt and replace it with crap guess what its still a shiny piece of crap.