Thread: Breaking down tight ends: Chicago

How about if we re-title this to; Bears Broken Down TE's and limit this to just Manu. I sure hope they show him the door this year and move Lance Louis up for a try. As for Olsen, Martz needs to realize what he's got in him and adapt his offense to accomodate Olsen's receiving skills. When he did use him last year it worked fine. If you send him out on seam routes you're gonna get some yardage and/or some long yardage scores. There aren't many LB's who could stay with him or Safeties who can deal with his size. Davis is a fair backup but he's not Olsen's caliber so he should be no threat but if they can get him to use his size and power he can offer things that Olsen can't.

If Manu makes the team this year it's a wasted roster spot. Keeping him would be as dumb as keeping Collins was last year ( which is precisely why I expect them to keep him ). He SUCKED last year. It was embarrassing , infuriating and disgusting to watch IMO.

Originally Posted by thekmann

In all fairness Brandon was hurt and just coming off knee surgery when we acquired him. He missed most if not all OTA's and training camp. He did come on much better in the latter part of the season and blocked very well even lining up at LT as Omiyale was brought over to the right outside Webb in a heavy set. I know Martz really is high on him and if he is fully heeled up I predict the Bears keep him as he doesn't cost that much because the Bears already paid him most of his money the first year. I don't see Louis being converted to a TE, don't know where that's coming from. He was playing very well at OG before he got injured and it's been reported Tice is very high on him as an OG. You take another look at the first lions game and he is stopping Suh one on one for most of the game and he didn't do too bad the following week against the Cowboys.

Louis was a TE in college for a time and is far more athletic (and a better blocker than) Manu. There would be more utility to just resign Clark than to use Manu again. For a guy who has Martz system "down pat" he missed many assignments and routes during the whole season injury or no.
I would rather see Omiyale put in at TE than Manu and that's saying something.

People do forget that Greg Olsen turned into a pretty admirable fullback/tight-end in the backfield when called upon to do that. He learned to do all of this from Mike Tice all in one season, and common sense would dictate that he can only go up from here in terms of blocking production. Kellen Davis might be more of a traditional blocker, but he's not as fluid as Olsen at running routes, nor does he have the hands. Manumaleuna needs to go. Regardless of whether he had a bum knee last year or not, he was largely unproductive, and couldn't hold off a raging 300+ elephant of a man from running wild on him.

See? This is why I don't like having Mike Fartz as the offensive coordinator. He doesn't incorporate all aspects of the offense. I dare say that Olsen is capable of being a 1,000+ yard receiver if he is properly used. Fartz might have a timing based offense, but in reality, all he wants to do is chuck the ball deep down field and avoid using tight-ends and running backs. That won't win us many games in the weather that Chicago sees during the late fall and early winter.

Originally Posted by thekmann

I think you guys are way too critical of Manumaleuna. I think he played rather well after the bye week as did most of the offense. Some of his blocks are what sprang Forte's long runs and he was never brought in to be a pass catching TE although he has performed that role admirably over his career when asked. You would be surprised how much a knee injury affects ones ability to block a 300+lbs human being. I think he still has value and if fully healthy will be an asset to the Bears in 2011, if there is a 2011 season.
As to Louis playing TE in college that doesn't mean squat. I bet he didn't weigh anywhere near the 300+lbs he weighs now when he did play a little college TE.

Overview

One of the top 10 tight end recruits in the country when he came to San Diego, Louis grew into a late-round pick after one season starting at right tackle for the Aztecs.


After starting at the end of his sophomore year at tight end, Louis missed the 2006 season with injury, then played as a reserve at guard in 2007.


His combination of speed and strength impress teams despite his lack of experience on the line. Louis is a bit reminiscent of San Diego Chargers fullback/tight end Brandon Manumaleuna, so some teams may consider using him in a similar role because of his blocking and receiving skills.

High School

Considered one of the top 10 tight end prospects in the country by Rivals.com ... All-Southwest region honoree by SuperPrep as one of the top 40 (No. 32) players in talent-rich Louisiana ... Caught 27 passes for more than 500 yards and seven touchdowns and credited with 63 tackles, including nine sacks on the defensive side ... Basketball standout who helped Landry to the state semifinals as a senior.


NFLDraftScout.com,

Originally Posted by thekmann

In all fairness Brandon was hurt and just coming off knee surgery when we acquired him. He missed most if not all OTA's and training camp. He did come on much better in the latter part of the season and blocked very well even lining up at LT as Omiyale was brought over to the right outside Webb in a heavy set. I know Martz really is high on him and if he is fully heeled up I predict the Bears keep him as he doesn't cost that much because the Bears already paid him most of his money the first year. I don't see Louis being converted to a TE, don't know where that's coming from. He was playing very well at OG before he got injured and it's been reported Tice is very high on him as an OG. You take another look at the first lions game and he is stopping Suh one on one for most of the game and he didn't do too bad the following week against the Cowboys.

I take that Lance Louis was play G in the first Detroit game and the Dallas game, right? I mean, if he was going up against Ndamokong Suh, that would almost mean that he would be in as a OG. I didn't get to watch the game because I didn't have NFL Sunday Ticket and I didn't know about some of the free sports TV sites that are available until much later in the season. If Louis is healthy, why not try him out at OG?