Thread: Is the Bears OL a priority?

I am so intrigued by the interest on this board for Konz. I have been wanting a top notch Center since Nick Mangold came out as I was seeing Olin's decline as early as then. I was all about Wisniewski last year, but that didn't happen, and I would love to see DoCastro this year, but that wont happen either. Konz has been scouted as the best Center prospect since perenial Pro-Bowler Mangold entered the league. I think one could make a good argument that the Center position is the second most critical position on the O-Line, based on his responsibilities, and I would love to see Konz with a "C" on his helmet. Frankly, I know Martin and Adams are the flavors of the year for our LT problem, but I really do not see them as providing a much better potential than Chris Williams when he came out.

My optimal off season would have the Bears augmenting our WR Corp through FA, and disregard the position in the draft until later rounds. Take Konz in the First, Maybe Vinny Curry in the second, Harrison Smith with our first pick in the third, if he's still there, and if not, maybe Orson Charles and then grab Kevin Zeitler with our own 3rd round pick.

Our O-Line could look like this next year

Chris WIliams LT
Konz LG
Garza C
Zeitler RG
Carimi RT

Once Garza leaves

Williams LT
Louis LG
Konz C
Zeitler RG
Carimi RT

Our long deprived O-Line is finally revived (Notice Webb is not part of my equation) and we can focus on other skill guys next year like LB, WR, CB, etc.

Originally Posted by 4DaBERS

I am so intrigued by the interest on this board for Konz. I have been wanting a top notch Center since Nick Mangold came out as I was seeing Olin's decline as early as then. I was all about Wisniewski last year, but that didn't happen, and I would love to see DoCastro this year, but that wont happen either. Konz has been scouted as the best Center prospect since perenial Pro-Bowler Mangold entered the league. I think one could make a good argument that the Center position is the second most critical position on the O-Line, based on his responsibilities, and I would love to see Konz with a "C" on his helmet. Frankly, I know Martin and Adams are the flavors of the year for our LT problem, but I really do not see them as providing a much better potential than Chris Williams when he came out.

My optimal off season would have the Bears augmenting our WR Corp through FA, and disregard the position in the draft until later rounds. Take Konz in the First, Maybe Vinny Curry in the second, Harrison Smith with our first pick in the third, if he's still there, and if not, maybe Orson Charles and then grab Kevin Zeitler with our own 3rd round pick.

Our O-Line could look like this next year

Chris WIliams LT
Konz LG
Garza C
Zeitler RG
Carimi RT

Once Garza leaves

Williams LT
Louis LG
Konz C
Zeitler RG
Carimi RT

Our long deprived O-Line is finally revived (Notice Webb is not part of my equation) and we can focus on other skill guys next year like LB, WR, CB, etc.

How great would it be to have three former Badgers together again on the same line who all played in a Pro-Style offense and know each other well.
INSTANT CONTINUITY for years to come !

Originally Posted by WindyCity

Bears had NFL's worst O-line?

Pro Football Focus, the highly respected NFL stats compilers and interpreters, present an interesting head-shaker regarding the Bears, declaring their offensive line to be the worst in the NFL for 2011. That’s based on pass blocking, run blocking and penalties.

That’s also worth a chuckle. A couple, actually.

For one thing, the second-worst line by the standards belonged to the New York Giants. The 2011 Lombardi Trophy also belongs to the New York Giants. The third-worst was that of the Denver Broncos, last seen disappearing under a New England tsunami but not before taking out the Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs.

Anyway, what makes this a little more head-scratching is that the Bears were the well-known 7-3 before losing their starting quarterback, were about in the middle of the pack on sacks per pass attempt at that time and were on their way to finishing in the top 10 for rushing yards per game despite missing their franchise tailback for virtually the last five games.

Anyway, what makes this a little more head-scratching is that the Bears were the well-known 7-3 before losing their starting quarterback, were about in the middle of the pack on sacks per pass attempt at that time and were on their way to finishing in the top 10 for rushing yards per game despite missing their franchise tailback for virtually the last five games
cont

http://www.csnchicago.com/blog/bears-talk/post/Bears-had-NFLs-worst-O-line?blockID=655924&feedID=10330

This should give you an idea of just how meaningless and inaccurate that study you quoted is. The Bears roll up 1700 yds rushing averaging 4.6 ypc, the Broncos were the top rushing team in the NFL with over 2600 yds rushing, and the Giants were the worst rushing team in the NFL but won the Super Bowl. So much for the theory that defense doesn't win games.

I wouldn't argue with anyone who said the Bears pass blocking sucked or someone who said the Giants run blocking sucked but not vice versa. The two worst defenses in the NFL came close to facing each other in the SB as well.

Whatever has been said about the Bears run blocking when taken out of context is inaccurate and shouldn't be relied on as an excuse for replacing every lineman on the team. That line got us to the NFCC Game in 2011 and if Cutler had remained healthy there was a 50-50 chance we make it again. Do we need to improve in certain areas, hell yes. But not to the point of throwing all of their asses out the door and starting over.

I don't see us taking a LT in round one because I believe that Tice would take the position that none were available who constituted an improvement over Webb and he may be right. But after looking at the contract status of CWill and Spencer and Garza's age I can see now where taking a "can't miss" guy like Konz or Glenn isn't that bad of an idea at all.

The only spot that I think could trump that is if a very good pass rusher is still on the board and we haven't been able to upgrade that spot in FA. Personally I'd much rather see us take a "can't miss" Olineman than a speculative pick at WR.
t

Originally Posted by motownbear

i like adams more then martin but as far as is he worth our first rounder idk. guess that would depend on who else is there when its our turn to pick

and hopefully emery isnt inept at drafting olinemen. maybe there are some under the radar guys we arent considering. doesnt have to be a first rounder ifthe gm is a bad ass evaluator

KC always seems to have good lineman so you have to think that Emery has been a part of that or at the very least understands it as far as a building block is concerned. The opinion that Tice likes to find guys with size and great physical attributes and teach them how to block lends itself to picking a guy in the mid or later rounds as long as Emery buys into that idea.

I'm beginning to see things a bit differently now than I did a week ago. Of the two I'd much prefer Adams over Martin because Adams fits Tice's idea of his type of Olineman whereas Martin doesn't. But I'm thinking along the lines as you are mo. Is Adams worth spending that #19 pick on if there are better players on the board including guys like Glenn and/or Konz who don't fill an immediate need but it may well be a need sooner than we think.

Lacking a top pass rusher and believing that any 1st round WR except Blackmon as subject to some real skepticism I'd either take one of the best Olineman on the board or trade out of that spot.

Originally Posted by motownbear

Webb was the worst OT in the league two years in a row. I would say replacing him is urgent but again just wont be easy

You forget about OMG, mo. That guy was seriously bad. How bad? Bad enough that out of a line of players ranking from poor to above average in terms of skill and play, he was the only one to be pulled from games due to the fact that he would fall flat on his ass whenever the LDE would bullrush in his direction. Even Webb wasn't that physically inept. Instead, he'd simply hook the RDE and get called for a holding penalty.

Originally Posted by WindyCity

Opinions of Jonathan Martin [Stanford] who is slipping down draft boards?

Opinions of Mike Adams [Ohio St] who should be there at 19?

From what I've heard, Windy, Adams is the more physically imposing of the two LTs. I have heard Martin be compared to Chris Williams in terms of style: as more of a finesse tackle. Adams is supposedly very physical, almost a brawler. It's been said by I think soul that he's more of the type that Tice would be looking for. I don't doubt, though, that Jonathan Martin could make an immediate impact on the line should we draft him.

Originally Posted by soulman

This should give you an idea of just how meaningless and inaccurate that study you quoted is. The Bears roll up 1700 yds rushing averaging 4.6 ypc, the Broncos were the top rushing team in the NFL with over 2600 yds rushing, and the Giants were the worst rushing team in the NFL but won the Super Bowl. So much for the theory that defense doesn't win games.

I wouldn't argue with anyone who said the Bears pass blocking sucked or someone who said the Giants run blocking sucked but not vice versa. The two worst defenses in the NFL came close to facing each other in the SB as well.

Whatever has been said about the Bears run blocking when taken out of context is inaccurate and shouldn't be relied on as an excuse for replacing every lineman on the team. That line got us to the NFCC Game in 2011 and if Cutler had remained healthy there was a 50-50 chance we make it again. Do we need to improve in certain areas, hell yes. But not to the point of throwing all of their asses out the door and starting over.

I don't see us taking a LT in round one because I believe that Tice would take the position that none were available who constituted an improvement over Webb and he may be right. But after looking at the contract status of CWill and Spencer and Garza's age I can see now where taking a "can't miss" guy like Konz or Glenn isn't that bad of an idea at all.

The only spot that I think could trump that is if a very good pass rusher is still on the board and we haven't been able to upgrade that spot in FA. Personally I'd much rather see us take a "can't miss" Olineman than a speculative pick at WR.
t

No doubt the OL was far better at run blocking than pass pro. Of course some of our rush yardage is due to the fact that we had 1 great RB and 2 other pretty decent ones carrying the ball a lot. The arrow is finally pointing up for this OL but to keep it moving in that direction, especially for the future, we could do a whole lot worse than getting another stud OLman like you mentioned in round 1. It's not sexy like a WR pick is but it is whole lot safer and wiser IMO. If Adams falls to #19, I take him no matter what Tice thinks of Webb. If by some miracle, DeCastro falls there, TAKE HIM. Glenn, probably the same. Konz is probably draftable in the mid-20s so a trade down could net an extra 3rd round pick which we could sorely use for added depth at DB and LB. These are all options IMO that should take precedence over any WR in the 1st as it looks right now. I know that's kind of unexciting but it just seems smarter the more I think about it.