A Closer look at the O-line.

A lot of people think we needed to draft at least one more O-line guy so I figured looking at what we got would be enough to kill part of the day....

Guards: in no particular order (Years of experience in parentheses)
Johan Asiata (1)
Herman Johnson (2)
Lance Louis (3)
Frank Omiyale (7)
Roberto Garza (11)
Edwin Williams

Tackles:
Gabe Carimi* (R)
Levi Horn (1)
J'Marcus Webb (1)
Chris Williams (4)

Center:
Olin Kruetz (OLD)

We've got some young talent that we've been developing behind the scenes so the call to take another O-line late round would just be adding to the list of delvoping talent we have. I find it hard to think anyone we grab after round 5 is gonna show up one of these young bucks. the key ingredient here is TICE. we've never really been a developmental team but after seing what Tice can do with Webb you start looking at guys like H. Johnson who's comparable in size to bot Carimi and Webb and your looking at three guys on the line over 6'6 and 300lbs... add to that they have a coach who knows how to teach.

We only need one more guy in FA as a day one starter and we're golden. you get Kruetz some young muscle to help at Gaurd and we're looking alright...

now this is going into IF territory... but for the sake of argument pretend that tice does with Herman johnson what he did with Webb.

LT - Webb
LG - Herman Johnson
C - Kruetz
RG - C.williams
RT - Gabe Carimi

that already looks a million times better. I'd like to see Asiata or the other williams (Edwin) step up and take Charge at one of the Guard spots, but anyway you look at it 90% chance were going with Kruetz one more year. the Tackle spots are solid, so we only have 2 spots to fill, and C. Williams was 50/50 last year...

We actually look pretty good considering we've got young talent still waiting in the wings for a shot at starting.

thoughts/opinions?....

Herman Johnson is terrible and is a camp body. What has he done in 2 years in the NFL to make you think that he can play at the NFL level?

If I had to make my prediction today at what the Bears will look like I think it will look like this,

Starters

LT: J'Marcus Webb

I would like to play Carimi at LT and Webb at RT, but I think that the Bears will try Webb at LT and allow Carimi to play it a little safer at RT. Webb came a long way in 1 season and I will not think that this move will fail until we see what he can do in the Pre-Season.

LG: Chris Williams

I do not think that the Bears will bench Williams. He may be a disappointment and he may never be very good, but he can be solid at LG and he is our best option unless we bring in 2 OGs in free agency. We need to stop moving him and allow him a chance to develop at a position.

C: Olin Kreutz

The Bears will resign him for his leadership and ability to direct traffic, while they try and develop a younger guy on the roster to take over.

RG: FA

I would like Davin Joseph or Justin Blalock, but with no new CBA I do not know who is available. I would live with a guy like Derrick Dockery who would bring 6'6" 330lbs size and could start for the Bears for a couple of seasons.

RT: Gabe Carimi

I think that he can play LT, but I think that the Bears will play him where they have the best chance of more than success. Carimi could be a good LT, but he could be a Pro Bowl dominant RT and I think that is where the Bears will start him to get his feet wet.

Backups

C Edwin Williams, the Bears will try and continue to develop Edwin Williams to be the center of the future.

OT Frank Omiyale, we have paid him to much to cut him and he can be a backup swing tackle.

OG Lance Louis, still has a ton of potential and size and we will continue to develop him as the inactive on game day.

Practice Squad

OT Levi Horn, he has the size and is worth another look on the practice squad.

C Tim Barnes, when we are able to sign undrafted free agents I would PR him and add to the developmental C talent on the team.

I agree with you Grizz. That's why I'm not as upset about the Enderle pick as most. Check out my tongue in cheek thread on a former 5th round OG prospect, LOL. He's a very good example of what the later rounds get you. So, we have an Omiyale, an Asiata, a Louis, and a Johnson as possible OG prospects. Throw in a Williams as an OC/OG prospect and sprinkle in Horn at OT. That's six guys who already be fighting for two or three Oline backup spots.

Now throw in another OG from FA to start and some OT/OG camp fodder from UDFA or waiver lists, the four guys we had starting in 2010 (less Omiyale) and Carimi. That gives us 12+ Olineman competing for 5 starting spots and two or three backup spots from a coach who knows how to evaluate and train talent and I don't think we're as bad off as some think we are.

Now, if Cutler learns how to get rid of the ball faster but still winds up on his ass as much as he did in 2010 then I'll be pissed but for now I'll wait and see if Tice continues to improve the talent he has.

Windy, I'm line of thinking is just because he hasn't done anything in the very short 2 years he's been in the NFL, doesn't mean Tice can't "coach him up"... or in other words, he's just as good as any current 5/6th rounder we would have taken this year without wasting the pick. or... we have comparable talent already on the team and familiar with the offense... why bring in a 5th round project guy when we already have so many?....

Windy, your plans for the line look pretty good to me. The OT spots could go one way or the other but getting a RG and allowing CWill to continue as the LG are ok. One thing that CWill needs to work on if he's gonna play inside is his strength. He's not a bad blocker on the move or in the second level but the boy has trouble getting movement on short yardage plays.

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Originally Posted by GrizzlyBear91

Windy, I'm line of thinking is just because he hasn't done anything in the very short 2 years he's been in the NFL, doesn't mean Tice can't "coach him up"... or in other words, he's just as good as any current 5/6th rounder we would have taken this year without wasting the pick. or... we have comparable talent already on the team and familiar with the offense... why bring in a 5th round project guy when we already have so many?....

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He is worse then a current 5th or 6th round pick. DeMarcus Love is an unkown and Johnson is a failure, give me the unkown anytime.

Herman Johnson has tried and failed to make an NFL team 2 years in a row. And we are talking about an Arizona Cardinals team that did not have a good OL.

I love Mike Tice, but for the past 2 seasons Herman Johnson was coached by Russ Grimm arguably as good an OL coach as Tice and Grimm had given up on this guy.

He has great size and it would be awesome if he was any good, but for 2 years he proved that he was not an NFL calibre OLmen.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WindyCity

He is worse then a current 5th or 6th round pick. DeMarcus Love is an unkown and Johnson is a failure, give me the unkown anytime.

Herman Johnson has tried and failed to make an NFL team 2 years in a row. And we are talking about an Arizona Cardinals team that did not have a good OL.

I love Mike Tice, but for the past 2 seasons Herman Johnson was coached by Russ Grimm arguably as good an OL coach as Tice and Grimm had given up on this guy.

He has great size and it would be awesome if he was any good, but for 2 years he proved that he was not an NFL calibre OLmen.

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Ok... and he's only in his 2nd year.... some guys bounce around from team to team before they get a shot. some guys spend 2-3 even 4 years as practice squad guys before "getting it"...

saying any 5th or 6th rounder is better than Johnson is a bit premature if you ask me.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GrizzlyBear91

Ok... and he's only in his 2nd year.... some guys bounce around from team to team before they get a shot. some guys spend 2-3 even 4 years as practice squad guys before "getting it"...

saying any 5th or 6th rounder is better than Johnson is a bit premature if you ask me.

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I would love for him to turn out to be good and flourish with the Bears.

But the only evidence that I have is that he is not an NFL lineman, so I will continue to see him in that light until he shows me different.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GrizzlyBear91

Ok... and he's only in his 2nd year.... some guys bounce around from team to team before they get a shot. some guys spend 2-3 even 4 years as practice squad guys before "getting it"...

saying any 5th or 6th rounder is better than Johnson is a bit premature if you ask me.

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And bounce around he does.....From one doughnut shop to another. 2 years in a row the kid couldn't keep his wight down and was too slow in his footwork. I've heard plenty about herm since he went to the Cards, and I hope he sees this as his last shot. But he's lazy, and lacks focus. If Grimm couldn't coach him up I doubt Tice can. Only one going to help him is himself, and that is a longshot at this point.

Nobody thought Webb would come around like he did... I'm not touting the guy as the next pro bowl gaurd... all I'm saying is don't be so quick to throw him out...

all too often fans say this guy is no good, that guy is no good.... and then we get surprised by guys that turn out to actually be pretty good.... that's all I'm saying.