Garza returns to right guard for Bears

Garza returns to right guard for Bears

Williams, Louis pushed into reserve roles

Garza returns to right guard for Bears

Williams, Louis pushed into reserve roles

Mike Tice originally said he wanted to come out of the off week with his offensive line set.

Maybe, just maybe, that is what will happen for the Bears. They're set to unveil their fifth combination of the season when they play again Nov. 7 against the Buffalo Bills in Toronto. Roberto Garza, who underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair the torn meniscus in his left knee Oct. 15, will reclaim his old job at right guard pushing youngsters Edwin Williams and Lance Louis into reserve roles.

Garza started 64 consecutive games at right guard from 2006 through 2009 before being moved to left guard a little more than a week into training camp. He'll be able to adapt quickly when he returns to practice next week, and having a veteran next to J'Marcus Webb could help the rookie right tackle make the next step in his rapid maturation.

"I have an extra week to rehab and get healthy," Garza said. "I feel good. The trainers are doing a great job, I'm coming around."

Webb has been thoroughly praised by offensive coordinator Mike Martz and Tice and has been a bright spot in a rocky and uneven first half of the season.

"(Webb) played better and the mentals were (better)," Tice said. "There were some situations in the game before, we all saw it, where he was looking around, his eyes weren't in the right spot. He only had one play in the whole game and they blitzed a fair number of times where his eyes weren't in the right spot. That just meant that he was more sure of himself. And he's such a gifted athlete and a massive human being, that when he knows what he's doing, even for a rookie seventh-round pick he's pretty OK."

Tice lines up for progress

BEARS | OL showed 'most confidence yet,' coach says

Bears coach Mike Tice has to be resourceful in finding ways to encourage his besieged offensive line.
So in the midst of the offense's disastrous second half Sunday, Tice scrounged for some scraps to lift up his linemen, although none of them were thrilled with the outcome.

''We don't want to be the reason for the turnovers, and we didn't feel like, in the course of the [game], we were -- for a change -- and so it was nice,'' Tice said.

Later, Tice said: ''I thought mentally, and the way they approached the game, and the rhythm they created for themselves ... this was the most confidence they played with.''

Tice and his players have handled themselves professionally and admirably, given the many problems they've had, from pass protection and run blocking.

Eight players have already started at least two games, and only center Olin Kreutz has started every game at one position. Injuries are partly to blame, particularly to veterans Roberto Garza and Chris Williams.
But the Bears may finally have a starting five.

Tice said the team is ''settled'' on the left side (Frank Omiyale at left tackle, Williams at left guard), at center with Kreutz and at right tackle with rookie J'Marcus Webb. Edwin Williams, a 2009 undrafted player who started three games, is expected to cede right guard to Garza, who missed two games because of a knee scope.

''It might be a good blend to get the older guy in there,'' Tice said referring to Garza, ''to help settle down the young guy [Webb] even more and have him take one more big step.''

Against the Seattle Seahawks, Webb and Edwin Williams struggled with communication, particularly when linebackers and defensive backs blitzed.

On Sunday, the Bears did a better job of picking up blitzes against the Redskins.
''We're continuing to grow,'' Garza said. ''It's a process. We definitely got better in the second half.''

Tice said there was no uncertainty from his players, in picking up the blitzes against the Redskins.

''Like any group that's growing, a lot of the things we screwed up, we were going to get again, and we did, in some form, and we hit 'em in the nose,'' Tice said, ''so we were pleased with that. If you get it cleaned up, you don't have to deal with it anymore.''

Quarterback Jay Cutler was sacked three times in the first 20 minutes of the game. But his protection got better, especially after the Bears started double-teaming Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth.

After practice Wednesday, Tice said his players had a good meeting and practice.

''We're fixing some things,'' he said. ''We can take another step this week.''

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"(Webb) played better and the mentals were (better)," Tice said. "There were some situations in the game before, we all saw it, where he was looking around, his eyes weren't in the right spot. He only had one play in the whole game and they blitzed a fair number of times where his eyes weren't in the right spot. That just meant that he was more sure of himself. And he's such a gifted athlete and a massive human being, that when he knows what he's doing, even for a rookie seventh-round pick he's pretty OK."

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That was something forget the other day.. Agree with Tice that webb was MUCH BETTER against the blitz pick up's than seattle. And a rookie will always have Some 'rookie mistakes", but its a real good sign, he LEARNED from the seatle game and did cut down on the mistakes, and they did try orakpo and rodgers blitzing on him and he did pick it up

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Tice said the team is ''settled'' on the left side (Frank Omiyale at left tackle, Williams at left guard), at center with Kreutz and at right tackle with rookie J'Marcus Webb. Edwin Williams, a 2009 undrafted player who started three games, is expected to cede right guard to Garza, who missed two games because of a knee scope.

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So guess Chris williams is NOT benched.. another jumping the Gun and bashing and rants without it being true.. lol

He wont get benched cause a first rounder

I dont get the fixation with OMG he hasnt been holding his own. We should be playing Williams at LT to see what we have going forward for next season. It will give us a better idea on how many new olinemen we need next year. Im at 4 just cause Im a little optimistic about Webb.

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Originally Posted by motownbear

He wont get benched cause a first rounder

I dont get the fixation with OMG he hasnt been holding his own. We should be playing Williams at LT to see what we have going forward for next season. It will give us a better idea on how many new olinemen we need next year. Im at 4 just cause Im a little optimistic about Webb.

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agree he will not get benched, just saying the stuff yesterday about him being benched and going voerboard, just the usual over-reaction we see to something that wasnt even true. Just wish people would take a bigger grain of salt from this stuff, if its just 'speculation" and not from the coacehs before going so overboard

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Originally Posted by motownbear

He wont get benched cause a first rounder

I dont get the fixation with OMG he hasnt been holding his own. We should be playing Williams at LT to see what we have going forward for next season. It will give us a better idea on how many new olinemen we need next year. Im at 4 just cause Im a little optimistic about Webb.

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I am totally with you on this. OMG, should be thanked for holding down the fort, but I would rather have Garza back at LG and Louis at RG or swap them, if need be, but we need to know what we have in our young guys, and OMG may not be one of them. Louis brought a little meaness to the line and Williams needs to be back at LT. IMHO