Thread: Best all time bears tackles- who ya got

Originally Posted by dabears54

In the Continuing series, today we will delve into the "O" side again, with the best Offsensive tackles. Once again its hard to differentiate or seperate some of the great early players, who played both ways, as to what their best position was, or how rank just as "O" or "D" player, but will try and do this by what known for:


1ed healey- one of the original stars of bears, and halas word good enough for me "Veteran Bears' Coach Halas calls Healey the most versatile tackle of all time. "

2joe stydahar- jumbo the first draft pick of the NFL and went on to a great carreer on bears many ways, "Jumbo Joe" was the epitome of the Bears' overpowering strength at that time. Fearless and huge by the standards

3. jimbo covert- One of the sad 'oversights" of the HOF is covert( and hilgy) not getting ny traction for HOF, as dent says, playing against covert all week made sunday's easy

4george musso( he can be either a guardor tackle)-But for literally the biggest star of all-at 6-2 and 270 pounds, George Musso was physically the most intimidating Bears-pro football's finest honor never came. As the years and even the decades rolled by, Musso reluctantly admitted that he most likely had been "lost in the shuffle" bit ginally got elected in 1982.Big Bear," as he was affectionately known by his contemporaries, was the Bears' middle guard on defense and he specialized in the big play-the blocked kick, the critical tackle, whatever was needed to blunt the enemy attack. It was almost impossible for a ball carrier to run through him and a detour around him meant running into a pack of outstanding linebackers such as Danny Fortmann and Bulldog Turner.
On offense, Musso started out as a tackle but, after four seasons, made the switch to guard when the teams personnel needs so dictated. He won all-NFL honors as a tackle in 1935 and then again as guard in 1937. No one was better at getting out of the line to lead interference. When asked how a big man could move so fast, Musso had a ready explanation.

5.A john tait- angelo's first F/A pick up and a big success

5b. keith van horne- just the huge RT the 1980's bears needed


honorable mentions:

roy 'link' lyman- known more for his "D" exploits still a top OT

big cat williams- a converted DT that after teh switch became a fixture

andy heck- hard to like much about the mid 90's but heck was good

ted albight/dennis lick- the 1970's were ugly but both played good for bad teams

Like linebacker, this is a position where I prefer to break down the position into left tackles and right tackles. I concede left tackles could probably also play right tackle, but I still prefer to break them down into two categories.

Left tackles

1) Jim Covert
2) Ed Healey (I'll defer to Halas)
3) Joe Stydahar
4) George Connor - I know you list him as a LB, but he was a very good left tackle also
5) John Tait (played 3 years for Bears as LT)


Right tackles

1) Keith Van Horne
2) Lee Artoe
3) James Williams
4) George Musso
5) John Tait (played 2 years for Bears as RT)

DaBears54 (and everyone) here's an article from 1994 that I thought you'd all appreciate. The RT is George Connor...

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1...ckers-all-time

Edit: Andy Heck and John Tait for LT would be close.

Originally Posted by dabears54

thought they started tait at RT at beg of year, and then moved to LT for "Q' mitchell part way through the year in 2004?becuase mitchell so bad.. but maybe didn't?..

The link aside I remember Tait volunteering to move to LT after the 2004 season. He actually went to the Bears and made the offer.

Thank you for reminding me about Andy Heck. I think he was probably a little better than Tait, but Tait played the position in the Super Bowl and also solidified a position of great need.

Edit: I find it interesting that Pierson gave the nod to Connor over Stydahar.

Favorite:Big Cat
Best: Covert.

Originally Posted by GrizzlyBear91

Favorite:Big Cat
Best: Covert.

What was Ditka's remark about Big Cat? Something like he throwing lineman around like tinker toys.

In the modern era we've been noticably deficient in great OT's. Gee, that's news isn't it, LOL. Since I have no awareness of the OT's of earlier eras and my grandpa has passed on and can't coach me I guess I'll confine my comments to more recent players.

I don't think we ever had an OT to equal Jimbo Covert and the pairing of him and Van Horne are the best twosome in modern times. Individually both Dennis Lick and Andy Heck were very good LT's but we got Heck later in his career and back problems ended Licks career early. Let's hope we have better luck with our more recent Badger OT.

Aside from Keith Van Horne the "Big Cat" would have to be all time favorite at RT. I see a lot of him in J'Marcus Webb too. I like Tait and either LT or RT but like Lick his injuries kept him from giving more than a few good years. One guy I didn't see on here is Lionel Antoine. Another first round pick with an injury foreshortened career.

All time worst OT: is there any doubt? Stan 'the woman" Thomas otherwise known as the matador, ole'.