Thread: Spencer works with starting line

I'm completely shocked that the guy we replaced O-lin with will start at the same position. In all reality, we all knew it was just a matter of time.

The best news is that he's got Spencer at OC and the worst is that he won't keep him there when Louis returns. I'm sorry but as much as I'd like to see him succeed I think his mental issues and his inexperience are too much to expect him to overcome this early in the year with as little work as he's had.

I'd play him behind Garza until he beats Garza out for the RG spot be that later this year or next. We can't afford to play him into shape watching him continue to make key mistakes in his pass blocking. He's just not ready yet and Tice needs to back off on his insistence on continuing to start him.

I can see his rationale in not moving Carimi if he believes as many other do that RT is where he will always excel. But if that's the case then he needs to do something about J'Marcus Webb and quickly. I don't want Webb practicing to be a LT on gameday and I sure as hell don't want OMG back in there either. If Webb can't hack then they need a temporary solution from somewhere be it the waiver wire or a trade but a combo of an failing Webb and an already failed OMG won't cut it. If we have to trade a 2012 pick for some help then do it.

With Spencer's contract this is inevitable in one form or another. I don't know the sick thing isn't a polite way to bow out or not. At least it's a way to get Spencer up to speed. However with the blocking and 3 nice pancake blocks E.Williams should get a shot. If this was last year I would say grow Louis into his role but not this year.

Only one more shoe to fall and that is the LT question.

At least by giving Spencer reps with the first string Tice can evaluate where he at as far as making him the starter. God this would have been soo much less of a problem if only the Bears and Kruetz could have reached an agreement. Ah well woulda, shoulda, coulda. Don't know what the deal is with EWill though. We never even hear his name mentioned by anyone.

By Jeff Dickerson

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears were able to catch a glimpse at a possible future offensive line configuration when starting right guard Lance Louis was forced to leave the practice field early Wednesday due to an illness.
Louis' absence allowed the Bears to shift Roberto Garza back to his old spot at right guard and insert Chris Spencer at center with the first team during team drills.
[+] EnlargeJonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesChris Spencer was initially thought to be the Bears' answer to Olin Kreutz's departure. Thus far, that hasn't been the case.


The move, however, isn't permanent and occurred because Louis left the field prematurely, according to Bears offensive line coach Mike Tice.
"We kind of got lucky a little bit," Tice said. "Lance is going to be okay, obviously, but we were able to make a move and take a look without turning it into a saga.'
"It'll be a good film for me to look at and see Chris in there with the No. 1 [team] and Roberto back over to the right side. Lance took ill so we had to pull him, the trainers didn't know if it was heat related. So we just got to show our depth a little bit."
The Bears signed Spencer -- a former first-round pick and starting offensive lineman for the Seattle Seahawks -- after the organization failed to come to terms on a new deal with veteran Olin Kreutz. Since arriving in Chicago, Spencer has primarily taken the second team reps at center.
"He's a veteran guy and knows the game, but [this is] a little bit different system," Tice said. "He's only played in a West Coast system. The pulling and maybe the power run blocking, the double teams are a little different. He's working his way through it. He's accepting coaching very, very well. He's done an excellent job for us and he's a good leader too. He knows how to take charge in the huddle. There's a lot to like about Chris."
Earlier in the day, offensive coordinator Mike Martz echoed Tice's sentiments that Spencer is still adjusting to the new offense.
"With Spencer, he's got a little time to go with that [learning the offense]," Martz said. "With the calls and the protections and all the different things that do happen with you...the pressures and those types of things."
Tice left open the possibility last week that Spencer could begin to work in with the No. 1 team if the offensive line "faltered" in the preseason opener against the Buffalo Bills. Even though the Bears surrendered nine sacks to the Bills, the same starting five lineman are expected to start Monday night versus the New York Giants.

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bear...irst-team-reps

Merged... saw your thread, SFB, after I posted this one.

Hey.... Tice put Louis on the Bench once already... I'm 100% positive he's not gonna put up with anyone's shit. I have a feeling louis might not get another shot if his Illness was anything less than an actual serious illness...

It was one of those "sick and tired" illnesses. Tice finally got sick and tried of watching him make the same mistakes over and over and over again. I think Louis may a great OG once he gets the mental aspects of the game down and also get more experience but he needs to get that in practice not games. Right now if you had both him and Garza compete for RG Garza would win hands down so put Garza back at RG until Louis can take it away from him and play Spencer at OC. That solves the immediate problem and still keeps Louis in the mix.