Bears Reconstruct Oline for Sunday's Game

Injuries force Bears’ offensive line into new look

BY MARK POTASH mpotash@suntimes.com September 21, 2011 9:36PM
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Chris Spencer (67) seems likely to join Roberto Garza (63) on the starting unit assigned to guard Jay Cutler (6). | Bill Feig~AP


Updated: September 22, 2011 2:16AM

Here we go again?

With rookie offensive tackle Gabe Carimi expected to miss four to six weeks with a partially dislocated right kneecap, the Bears not only have lost one of their best linemen, but will go into Sunday’s game against the defending Super Bowl champion Packers with their third different starting offensive line in three games.

Right guard Lance Louis, who started the opener against the Falcons but missed last Sunday’s game against the Saints with an ankle injury, practiced on a limited basis Wednesday and could miss the Packers game.

Chris Spencer likely would start again for Louis. Frank Omiyale will start for Carimi. For a line that survived on continuity in the second half of last season, it puts the Bears in a precarious position. But offensive line coach Mike Tice insisted it’s not a step back to Square 1.

‘‘No, no, no, no. We’re not a work in progress,’’ Tice said after practice Wednesday at Halas Hall. ‘‘I said a couple of weeks ago I felt we were eight deep and I still feel we’re eight deep.

‘‘Now it’s time for these guys to step up and show us that we kept the right guys [on the roster] and we did the right thing by not bringing in other guys. That’s up to them to do that and it’s up to me to get them ready.’’

The Bears have a lot of room for improvement after Sunday’s protection meltdown against the Saints. The offense allowed five sacks, and had two false-start penalties in the last 15 plays of the game.

‘‘We fell apart at the end. It was embarrassing,’’ Tice said. ‘‘There are a lot of culprits, including us coaches and we need to clean it up. We have to get better in communication. We have to be more consistent in our run blocking. And we have to finish games *better.’’

As for Carimi, it appears the Bears will be fortunate to have their first-round draft pick (29th overall) back before midseason. ‘‘It’s unfortunate because he was playing some of the best ball of all our guys,’’ Tice said. ‘‘He’s an elite player. And when you lose a player like that for an extended period of time, it’s never good.’’

Still, Tice is upbeat about the prospect of Carimi returning on schedule.

‘‘He’s a tough son-of-a-[buck], I can tell you that much,’’ Tice said. ‘‘Fortunately for him — fortunately or unfortunately — he’s had the injury before. So he knows what it feels like and when it’s going to start feeling good and when he can start pushing it.

‘‘But the bottom line is that it’s a serious injury. It’s not like he’s going to be back next week. We hope to get Lance [Louis] back, because we think he’s one of our better players. We’ve just got to move forward. ’’

The entire starting right side of the line has now been wiped out so we start our backup OC at RG and the worst pass blocking OT in the entire NFL at RT. Going up against Clay Matthews and the blitz happy Packers if this isn't a cause for concern I don't know what is. If I were Jay Cutler I'd be looking into disablilty insurance today.

Tice's comment about these guys "stepping up" and proving he kept the right guys rings so hollow. We tried to replace at least two of them and FAILED to do it. This Oline was thin on experience if not on talent too with the five starters we played against Atlanta. Now it's an f'n disaster. Neither of the two guys starting on the right side should even be on this team and Webb and CWill are still working under their learners permits at LT and LG.

Lovie better hope like hell that the defense can contain the Packers offense and that the Bears can mount a very good running attack because if Cutler has to throw much behind this line it's gonna get ugly. When it comes to all time screw ups there is nothing positive that JA did this offseason that can possibly offset the negative of his failure to rebuild this Oline the right way. About the only two guys who are at least decent playing where they're at are Garza and CWill. The rest is a disaster waiting to happen.

Angelo and the coaches can push this happy horseshit all they want but when these guys don't show up again this Sunday where do we go from there? There's isn't any help to be had from anywhere else that I can see.

Chicago Bears With Carimi out, Omiyale getting look at right tackle. But if start doesn't go well, look for Bears to shuffle some more.

10:04 p.m. CDT, September 21, 2011

Frank Omiyale has what amounts to a one-game tryout at right tackle Sunday and after that the Bears will re-evaluate what they're doing on the offensive line.

That's the latest twist for the men protecting quarterback Jay Cutler now that Gabe Carimi will "miss an extended period of time" after suffering a subluxation of his right knee in Sunday's loss to the Saints. It's similar to an injury Carimi suffered during his career at Wisconsin but the last time it occurred during spring ball.

Carimi will not require surgery and he already is rehabilitating the knee and leg.

"Gabe had a serious injury," offensive line coach Mike Tice said. "… He's an elite player, so you lost an elite player. That's never a good thing."

Omiyale has plenty of starting experience but Tice is high on Lance Louis, who looked a little tender on his sprained right ankle while limited in Wednesday's practice. Louis is not expected to start Sunday but could re-enter the mix Oct. 2 vs. the Panthers.

Tice's policy has been to seek the five best linemen and Louis, who played left tackle at San Diego State, could be tried at right tackle with Chris Spencer remaining at right guard. Louis started the season at right guard.

"When Lance comes back, we'll find a place for Lance to play," said Tice, who joked he's willing to try anything. "I actually lost 12 pounds and I'm trying my pads on tomorrow. I don't know if I have anything in me but the national anthem, but I'm going to certainly give it a whirl."

The Bears hope to have Carimi back in action before the off week after Oct. 23. Another player who will not play this week is wide receiver Earl Bennett, who is out of action after the hit to the chest he took from Saints safety Roman Harper.

I gotta laugh my ass off at this "one game tryout thing". How many more games is it gonna take to prove to themselves that Frank Omiyale is a waste and that he isn't good enough to play anywhere on this Oline let alone start. How much more shuffling can they do? After OMG all they can do is either play Louis if and when he's healthy or move Levi Horn up from the PS. This is such a joke!

Honestly, we're gonna have to go with 2 TE sets (with both blocking a lot) and hope that Williams/Knox/Sanzabah can compete with Forte on getting the ball. I honestly feel that OMG against any DE or LB (even that joker we got from the Jets) is a disadvantage to us, but with Webb playing halfass, Cutler better be able to fly, because he's not going to be able to step up in the pocket with BJ raji going against Garza.

We should have went for patchwork offensive vets like Water before Patriots snagged him but they are happy in investing shit on offense and grabbing as many dlinemen as possible

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Originally Posted by motownbear

We should have went for patchwork offensive vets like Water before Patriots snagged him but they are happy in investing shit on offense and grabbing as many dlinemen as possible

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Like I said elsewhere mo, if there so pleased with the guys they have on offense then let's see them win with them. What excuse are we gonna here this week if Cutler gets sacked and hit another dozen times or so? This whole thing is getting so pathetic that I can't go one day without getting even more pissed off at the crap rolling out of their mouths. They can't possibly think we believe it do they?

Chicago Bears Report


Source: Bears considering Levi Horn

September, 22, 2011
Sep 22

By Michael C. Wright

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Depth concerns along the offensive line might force the Chicago Bears to dig deep into the roster to find capable backups for Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers.

Lance Louis isn't ready Sunday, Levi Horn could get his shot on the Bears' offensive line. The club could even take a dip into its practice squad, according to a source that indicated Wednesday the Bears are strongly considering promoting practice squad tackle Levi Horn to the active roster, adding the move could take place by the end of the week, depending on the availability of right guard Lance Louis, who has been limited at practice all week due to a sprained right ankle.

The team continues to closely monitor the progress of Louis. If Louis' sore ankle improves enough for him to play against the Packers, the Bears won't need to promote Horn. But if it doesn't, the team will likely make the move.

Signed as an undrafted rookie by the Bears in 2010, Horn spent the majority of last season on the practice squad.

Given the uncertain status of Louis, and the right kneecap subluxation suffered last week by Gabe Carimi that will keep him out for an extended period, the Bears -- should they decline to add personnel to the active roster -- could enter Sunday's matchup against the Packers with six healthy linemen, which means five starters, and only one reserve. That wouldn't be an ideal situation for a team currently leading the league in sacks allowed (11) after the first two weeks of the season.

"Everybody that's on our roster, in our mind is a future starter," said offensive coordinator Mike Martz, when questioned about depth concerns up front. "We don't have backups. That's how we look at our guys. We look at them all as starters. It's just their opportunity to step up and play well, and be excited that they have that opportunity. We're disappointed the opportunity is there. That means somebody got hurt. But we're also excited these guys who have been waiting for an opportunity like this get a chance."

Listed in the team's media guide as a tackle, Horn also spent time with the Bears working at guard. Horn played with the second team offense in the preseason, and drew praise from offensive line coach Mike Tice for his vast improvement from Year 1 to Year 2 with the team. Because Horn can play either inside or outside, the Bears could use him as a potential backup at two positions.

Asked whether Louis would be available for Sunday's contest, Tice said, "I don't know, he's trying. When Lance comes back we'll find a place for him to play."

Martz says; "Everybody on our roster, in our mind, is a future starter". "We don't have backups". "That's how we look at our guys".

LMFAO!!! Earth to Mike. WTF color is it in your world pal? Christ I want this guy gone ASAP. I can see the collapse coming now. From the doorstep to the Super Bowl right back to a .500 team again. Time for a change gang. Clean house at least as far as this clown is concerned. See if Detroit will rehire him.

I can't wait to hear Tice sing the National Anthem.