Thread: Williams fares well in debut as left guard

Communication breaks down; so does line

What we have here, Bears player after player said afterward, is a failure to communicate.
It's why the Bears allowed six sacks and are on pace to surrender 72 for the season, which would shatter the team record of 66 sacks allowed in 2004

It's why on four occasions the player who sacked Jay Cutler wasn't only unblocked, but untouched.
It's why Cutler had to burn two valuable timeouts in the second half and why for the second time this year the Bears completed a game without a single third-down conversion.

Ultimately, it's why the Bears fell to the Seattle Seahawks 23-20 on Sunday at Soldier Field, blowing a chance to seize firm control of the wobbly NFC North.

''Today we were out of sync, to be honest,'' guard Edwin Williams said. ''We have to be on the same page, and today we weren't. There were a lot of mental errors, myself included, on those sacks. The blame is not on anybody in particular, but on the whole offense.

''On certain plays, the O-line has the [blitzing defensive backs], and on certain plays it's a [hot read] and on certain plays the fullback or running back has him. We just weren't picking them up and getting the job done. At the end of the day, if we're all on the same page, we can pick that stuff up regardless.

''Today we weren't on the same page.''

If the Bears are having this many fundamental communication problems this late in the season, there is reason to wonder if they will ever get straightened out.

As Williams said, safeties and cornerbacks running untouched off the edge aren't always the linemen's fault. In fact, sometimes the onus is on the quarterback, who can combat the blitz by throwing a quick pass to a ''hot'' receiver, which is something Cutler didn't do often enough Sunday.

''It was very obvious we weren't on the same page out there today offensive line-wise, and that's my job.'' veteran center Olin Kreutz said. ''It falls on my shoulders. I have to get that corrected.''

The lack of communication also hurt the team on third down. In their last three games, the Bears have converted only three of 40 third downs.

Is it any wonder they have lost two of three?

''We played hard, but we didn't play smart,'' Williams said. ''You can play as hard as you can, but if you don't know what you're doing and aren't on the same page and if you're assuming instead of opening your mouth and talking, it doesn't matter who you are blocking. They're going to get you.''

Williams did acknowledge that playing guard was different. "There are bigger guys," he said. "There are a lot more moving parts in there. I won't know until I watch the tape what happened."

One of those bigger guys, 6-foot-2, 328-pound defensive tackle Colin Cole, said Williams did all right at guard. "He was strong, he had some inside punch," Cole said. "He did a good job in the passing game."

While williams did play well( and a nice block on the forte TD).. think he needs to go back to Tackle next week- obviously Omiyale isn't getting the job done on the blind side, and twice yesteday picked up the wrong people, letting in uncontested tacklers to cutler...

Originally Posted by little bear

lol

I was just gonna say that yesterday's lineup didn't work at all. Chris Williams as LG, Edwin Williams as RG and JMarcus Webb as RT is complete garbage. Put Shaffer and Louis back in.

Louis was hurt, as to why didn't play.. And While like Webb long term at RT, he was overmatched yesterday at times- Do agree the bears need to think long and hard about Webb 'potential" vs Shaffer vet experience for the redskins

The way Omiyale and Webb chased DE's crashing to inside, as someone came untouched to outside was appalling. In offensive tackle 101, you learn that they'll be bringing someone from the outside. Don't go chasing the man into other gaps! Especially when you know there's an empty backfield. Stay disciplined.

Originally Posted by Butka

The way Omiyale and Webb chased DE's crashing to inside, as someone came untouched to outside was appalling. In offensive tackle 101, you learn that they'll be bringing someone from the outside. Don't go chasing the man into other gaps! Especially when you know there's an empty backfield. Stay disciplined.

Actually On 2 of them butka there was a rb in there- not making excuses for them becuase agree 100% it was appalling to go inside- but also taylor desrves part of blame, if watch the safety, he is back there, runs up middle and lets the DB come flying in behind him..

Think for at least a few games( and esp as have orakpo sunday), rather see shaffer out there on right side to see if can calm it down, despite Shaffer's obvious struggles at times with speed rushes

Originally Posted by Butka

True DB, it wasn't an empty backfield on all of them... just still terrible to see them chasing inside.

FWIW, I thought Omiyale did a worse job than Webb did. At least Webb can write it off as a rookie mistakes. I'd rather see CWilliams back at LT also. He's not as bad at LT as many are making him out to be.

yeah was screaming at the tv. "how can you looking inside and not outside"???, and agree 100% that IMo would like to see Williams back at LT next week- omiyale just not doing it for me,, either put him at RT or shaffer

Williams/williams/kreutz/Louis( if healthy)/Shaffer( or omiyale) would be the Unit like to try sunday and work Webb in on some series