Thread: Carimi just wants to play

Whatever choice the Bears make, assistant coach Mike Tice won't have much time to get a revamped line prepared for the Sept. 11 opener vs. the Falcons. A two-part process for development has been reduced to one stage because of the lockout. You can't tell what you have on the line until the pads are on in training camp, and this year you couldn't teach technique and concepts before then.

A case could be made for leaving Carimi at left tackle because there have been no offseason workouts and minicamps. He played there four years at Wisconsin. Let him go with what he's most accustomed to doing and see if he can excel. Meanwhile, Webb could remain where he made 12 starts last season.

"You're going to feel more confident in the stance that you have been playing your career at," Carimi said last week from Madison, Wis., where he is wrapping up an eight-week training program he began after the draft. "It doesn't matter to me as long as I can make an impact on the team that it needs."

Though Tice has said Webb has the traits he looks for in a prototypical left tackle, there would be substantial teaching involved if he is the choice.

Whatever way it goes, Carimi doesn't just talk with confidence, he exudes it. He has been working out at Wisconsin with John Moffitt (Seahawks) and Bill Nagy (Cowboys), teammates who also were drafted, as well as former Badger Eric Vanden Heuvel (Ravens). Now, he's giving his body a rest and doing a little traveling, including a trip to Florida for the NFL's rookie symposium.

Reallt like his 'tude and do think they are going to try him at LT first, and hopefully can stick there,,and just IMo going to go with Carimi/williams/kreutz/F/A guard( or garza and move f/a to LG) )/webb.... And have Omiyale the swing tackle and garza/williams the swing Guard in case of an injury on whoever isn't starting

Originally Posted by Henry Burris

If williams can hold up at guard, i'm fine with it, but I think Webb is fine at where he stays, but get him some help at the RG spot (remember that Mangold and Ferguson of the Jets weren't so great until they got faneca from the steelers), and I think we could be fine. Or if he could play RG, get a GOOD RT to replace him.

becuase of the likely 'glut" of top OG's to hit F/A this year, think a OG much more likely than a tackle to get in F/A

I really don't see them keeping a #14 pick as a backup either at OT or OG. If C Williams cannot hold onto a starting OL spot he gets released in my opinion. I'm sure that if/when FA starts the Bears will definitely go after a OG/C type player first and foremost since they were not able to get Moffitt in the draft like it has been rumored they were after. I think either of the Atlanta guards are probably high on their list depending on the CBA as to whether both become available. I don't think they make a huge splash for a PB caliber player but more go after a young guy ending his first contract like they did with Garza as that has worked out very well. Garza has been a solid and very reliable FA acquisition and he didn't and doesn't cost much.

This also brings up a point that I have often wanted to discuss and that is with regard to Atlanta and the possibility that they could lose either or both of their OG's why in the hell did they mortgage the house during the draft to pick a unproven rookie WR when their QB may be flat on his ass all year if they lose those guys. Do they have incredible depth on their OL that they feel they could lose one or two interior linemen and still think they can make the big dance? I don't know enough about the Falcons to follow their logic in why they gave up so much to move up in the draft for a wideout. Just curious if you peeps could enlighten me.....

Originally Posted by dabears54

Carimi just wants to play

Bears rookie tackle doesn't care if he's on left or right side — as long as it's soon

By Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune reporter 1:45 p.m. CDT, June 18, 2011


Barring a move no one expects, the Bears will open 2011 with a different left tackle for the fifth consecutive season.

With success at the position often entrenched in continuity, they have been challenged there since the chain reaction that began in 2008 when John Tait moved back to right tackle and John St. Clair took over on the left side after back surgery derailed first-round draft pick Chris Williams in training camp of his rookie season.

Now, with another first-round selection in the mix, maybe the team has its man in Gabe Carimi.

But all he can tell you is the plan for him is to play tackle. Which side? Your guess is as good as his. Williams has made seven starts at the position with Frank Omiyale and Orlando Pace dividing the rest of the time over the last two seasons.

It would be a surprise if Williams, chosen 14th overall, was back at left tackle, where he began the 2010 season. His future seems to be at guard.

Maybe Carimi, the 27th pick in April, will be the guy. But J'Marcus Webb, a rookie starter at right tackle last season, is a possibility.

And the Bears could add a lineman via free agency, but if they do it likely would be on the interior.

Whatever choice the Bears make, assistant coach Mike Tice won't have much time to get a revamped line prepared for the Sept. 11 opener vs. the Falcons. A two-part process for development has been reduced to one stage because of the lockout. You can't tell what you have on the line until the pads are on in training camp, and this year you couldn't teach technique and concepts before then.

A case could be made for leaving Carimi at left tackle because there have been no offseason workouts and minicamps. He played there four years at Wisconsin. Let him go with what he's most accustomed to doing and see if he can excel. Meanwhile, Webb could remain where he made 12 starts last season.

"You're going to feel more confident in the stance that you have been playing your career at," Carimi said last week from Madison, Wis., where he is wrapping up an eight-week training program he began after the draft. "It doesn't matter to me as long as I can make an impact on the team that it needs."

Though Tice has said Webb has the traits he looks for in a prototypical left tackle, there would be substantial teaching involved if he is the choice.

Whatever way it goes, Carimi doesn't just talk with confidence, he exudes it. He has been working out at Wisconsin with John Moffitt (Seahawks) and Bill Nagy (Cowboys), teammates who also were drafted, as well as former Badger Eric Vanden Heuvel (Ravens). Now, he's giving his body a rest and doing a little traveling, including a trip to Florida for the NFL's rookie symposium.

Carimi called free agent center Olin Kreutz three weeks ago to introduce himself and inquire if there were any linemen workouts being held. He said he got some valuable advice. Carimi believes whenever the NFL labor situation is resolved, he will have enough time to get up to speed for the start of the season.

"I would assume some rookies are really going to struggle," he said. "If they come from a spread offense or a completely different offense that really isn't what you consider pro-style.

"We ran a pro-style offense the entire time I was at Wisconsin so I am very familiar with all of the run-blocking schemes. There are different names and calls and how you communicate with the linemen, but you start by associating stuff with plays you did run until you fully grasp it.

"That's where I had a leg up in the competition (to be drafted). If there was going to be a long lockout, I'm a guy who has been taught football the right way and it would be an easy transition to learn plays.

"Obviously, I would like to have more time going against guys like (Julius) Peppers to get a feel for the different competition level. I also would like to get that camaraderie with the O-line that is so crucial. You would like the time (lost by the lockout), but I don't think it's going to be to the point where I'm not playing good football."

bmbiggs@tribune.com

Really love the fact Carimi reached out to Kreutz. I was also wondering if the Offensive linemen were holding any kind of informal gatherings during this lockout.

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Originally Posted by thekmann

I really don't see them keeping a #14 pick as a backup either at OT or OG. If C Williams cannot hold onto a starting OL spot he gets released in my opinion. I'm sure that if/when FA starts the Bears will definitely go after a OG/C type player first and foremost since they were not able to get Moffitt in the draft like it has been rumored they were after. I think either of the Atlanta guards are probably high on their list depending on the CBA as to whether both become available. I don't think they make a huge splash for a PB caliber player but more go after a young guy ending his first contract like they did with Garza as that has worked out very well. Garza has been a solid and very reliable FA acquisition and he didn't and doesn't cost much.

This also brings up a point that I have often wanted to discuss and that is with regard to Atlanta and the possibility that they could lose either or both of their OG's why in the hell did they mortgage the house during the draft to pick a unproven rookie WR when their QB may be flat on his ass all year if they lose those guys. Do they have incredible depth on their OL that they feel they could lose one or two interior linemen and still think they can make the big dance? I don't know enough about the Falcons to follow their logic in why they gave up so much to move up in the draft for a wideout. Just curious if you peeps could enlighten me.....

disagree about williams k-mann, he makes only $1 million in 2011, and if cut him, you have to take a 200K cap hit, and the minimum you can pay another player( and doubt a replacement is plaing for minimum) is 560,000 so the "most" you save have is $240,000, by cutting him, which think better to keep at the small salary even if a back up for 2011, and if he improves you get the upside at a cheap cost.

And as far as the Falcons go, it IS an odd situation and their fans think so also. They expected to lose Clabo, but losing the guards will really hurt and if have to overpay to resign , really will hurt their cap going forward- its obvious they do not have a good cap guy or not thinking of the future and praying for 2011 to remain all RFA's which I just do not see happening. And they moved up thinking a WR to compliment white would be the missing piece, but when you give up 48 in a playoff game to packers, you have more pieces missing then Another WR, imo..