Thread: Carimi Back on the Practice Field but Return Date Still Uncertain.........

We don't know if his return will be on Nov 7th yet but we do know that his return presents a dilemna that given the state of the OLine is a nice one to have. Over the past two games the line with Webb, CWill, Garza, Spencer and Louis has performed fairly well at least in comparison to how well the performed prior to that. So who becomes the odd man out.

Windy posted a thread on this same thing so we've had time to kick it around some. My guess is that Louis will move back into RG to make room for Carimi and Spencer will take a seat but Louis will be on notice that if his play at RG isn't the equal of his play at RT then Spencer will take his place.

The way I see it is that we get some better depth with Spencer now an inside utility man as well as a competent starter and Louis gives us a spare OT that should insure that OMG never plays another down in navy blue and orange.

Bears in no hurry for Carimi to play

Offensive tackle back at practice but will work into action slowly


By Vaughn McClure, Chicago Tribune reporter 9:08 p.m. CDT, October 26, 2011


While Gabe Carimi's return to practice Wednesday provided a topic of conversation during the Bears' off week, offensive coordinator Mike Martz tempered some of the enthusiasm surrounding the rookie's comeback from a knee injury.

Both Carimi and receiver Earl Bennett should help improve the league's 17th-ranked offense during the second half of the season, but the coaching staff won't rush either player coming off injuries. (How did we get from 30th ot 31st to 17th in just two games?)

Carimi, who suffered a partial dislocation of his right knee in the Week 2 loss to the Saints, practiced for the first time since his knee buckled in New Orleans. The first-round pick from Wisconsin completed individual drills and did some light team work.

"Everything is right on track with what we were expecting,'' Carimi said.

But Carimi is not expected to start when the Bears face the Eagles on Nov. 7. He was sidelined for 37 days and needs to re-establish a rhythm. (Well it seems that question has been answered)

"I haven't talked a whole lot to (offensive line coach Mike Tice) about it,'' Martz said. "But I would imagine it will be pretty difficult to suddenly throw (Carimi) into the mix and then just say, 'This is it.' We have to work him in. (How often to you two actually DO talk?)

"He's still dealing with his injured leg a little bit. The rehab on it has gone very well. But you can't just put him in there. The other guys are playing well right now, so there's consistency in the front. When it's time for him to play, it will be time for him to play.'' (Another one of Martz's typical non-statements. Kind like, "I'll get around to running the ball more when I get around to it". We're gonna have to write a book on Martz-isms kind of like Yogi-isms)

The offensive line has fared well without Carimi lately, feeding into Tice's claim that depth would be a strength of the group. Lance Louis, the starter at right guard in the opener, started the last two games at right tackle in place of Carimi. Veteran Chris Spencer, signed as a center, has been solid at right guard.

The Bears surrendered just three sacks in back-to-back victories over the Vikings and Buccaneers after giving up an average of 3.6 sacks per game through the first five contests.

Some of the improvement has to do with quarterback Jay Cutler taking shorter drops and releasing the ball quicker, and some has to do with the tight ends and running backs being more involved in protection. But the progress up front hasn't gone unnoticed.

"They're getting better and better,'' Cutler said of the line. "… The way those guys are playing right now … they're playing well. We can build on that."

Cutler has a comfort zone with Bennett, his former college teammate at Vanderbilt. However Bennett, like Carimi, hasn't been on the field since Week 2 after suffering an upper body injury. He practiced last week but was held out against the Bucs.

Bennett's imminent return is part of the reason general manager Jerry Angelo has made it clear the Bears have no intention of pursuing veteran receivers such as Terrell Owens or recently released ex-Bear Bernard Berrian, either of whom would take snaps away from someone in the rotation. (it's too late for that anyway so just give Forte an extesnion ok?)

Bennett, with a career average of 12.6 yards per catch, should get plenty of reps upon his return, even with undrafted rookie Dane Sanzenbacher proving himself as a reliable target. Running back Matt Forte remains the team's leading receiver with 38 catches for 419 yards.

"We've been able to move the ball pretty good,'' Bennett said. "Matt's doing a great job. He and Marion (Barber) and the receivers, a lot of guys have been stepping up. … I just look to come back and contribute.''

vxmcclure@tribune.com

Twitter @vxmcclure23

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Well since he's had that injury before I can see him being inactive a few more games before he's worked in. He can probably get plenty of garbage time in vs. lesser teams.

Originally Posted by short faced bear

Well since he's had that injury before I can see him being inactive a few more games before he's worked in. He can probably get plenty of garbage time in vs. lesser teams.

Yeah it's not as if we're as desperate for an OT is we were when he went down. Louis has done a nice job and it won't hurt him to play a few more games at RT then move back inside.

Where is Mike Martz in all of this? Just last week, I read that Lovie Smith said that Carimi would most likely be back in the starting rotation vs. Philly. Hopefully I didn't misread it and it said "after the bye."

Also, have they considered swapping out Webb in favor of Carimi at LT? That is Carimi's natural position, and I think that if he were to get put there, we might have ourselves a decent offensive line. Don't get me wrong - I like the progress that Webb is making at LT. It's just that the best player for the position is Carimi since Lance Louis is having such a positive effect on the offensive line at RT.