Bears Need to Upgrade Oline..............

Bears need O-line upgrades

http://www.dailyherald.com/apps/pbcs...w=182&maxh=248

Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) is sacked by Green Bay Packers linebacker Frank Zombo (58) as Bears’ Frank Omiyale watches during the first half of an NFL football game in 2010 in Chicago. ASSOCIATED PRESS

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By Bob LeGere



Whether they care to admit it or not, the Bears need better play at left tackle if they expect better performances from quarterback Jay Cutler.


Bears quarterbacks have been sacked 105 times in the past two seasons, and left tackle J’Marcus Webb was beaten for 12 of those sacks last season. There’s a good chance a left tackle will be seriously considered in the first or second round later this week.


USC’s Matt Kalil will be long gone by the time they make their first pick at 19, but Iowa’s Riley Reiff and Georgia’s C Cordy Glenn could be available. The Bears’ second-round pick is 50th overall, and Stanford’s Jonathan Martin, Mississippi’s Bobby Massie and Illinois’ Jeff Allen are all considered top 50 picks.



Every position on the line could be upgraded with the exception of right tackle, which should be a strength, as long as last year’s No. 1 pick, Gabe Carimi, is fully recovered from a dislocated knee cap that sidelined him after two games.


The Bears are solid at guard with Roberto Garza, bit his knees aren’t what they were before 11 years in the NFL trenches.


There are a handful of guards on the roster who are capable, but none who are outstanding. Edwin Williams started the final seven games last season at left guard after Chris Williams started the first nine before suffering a dislocated wrist. Former Seahawk Chris Spencer, a center for most of his previous six seasons, started 14 games at right guard.


Last year’s starting right tackle, Lance Louis is likely to move back inside to guard with the healthy return of Carimi.

OLT help arrives in this mock

Posted by Bob LeGere on Mon, 04/23/2012 - 21:50


In Pro Football Weekly’s latest mock draft, they enlisted the “expertise” of their correspondents around the league, including yours truly, and had them make the selection for the team they cover.


I don’t necessarily believe the draft will fall this way, but at No. 19, I had my choice of Illinois DE Whitney Mercilus and Iowa OLT Riley Reiff, and I took blind-side pass protection for Jay Cutler. There is some concern that Reiff doesn’t have outstanding OLT characteristics. He lacks great movement skills, and his arms aren’t the ideal length to keep pass rushers at bay, but he started all 26 games the past two seasons at OLT and was a first-team all-Big Ten pick. (Reiff is beginning to drop just because some are having trouble projecting him at LT because of his physical limitations)


Stanford OLT Jonathan Martin was another consideration at 19, but a lot of the draft gurus seem to believe he’s highly overrated. He wasn’t selected at all in this first-round mock. (The closer we get to the opening of the draft the more Reiff and Martin fall. Martin is no longer in round one of many mocks. This OT class isn't even as good for LT's as last years which is why drafting one high needs to be avoided)


To see all the picks with explanations for each selection, go to:
http://www.profootballweekly.com/201...ents-mock-draf...

I don't deny that we need to start the rebuilding of our Oline and I see it as much that way as I do the need to upgrade. There is enough talent everywhere but at OT to squeeze by given that these guys have another year experience under their belts, we get two starters we lost to injury back and guys who may have played out of position won't be.

This year should be the beginning of that rebuilding process but the lack of top talent at OT leads me more in the direction of OG's like Zeitler who could also play OC in the NFL. Somewhere in the first four rounds we need and OG or an OT and if it is an OT I wouldn't take one until the middle rounds. The value there is as good as it is in two or three. JMHO.

The Bears line needs to be upgraded? That's news to me.

was this story from 2007?

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Originally Posted by motownbear

was this story from 2007?

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Hahahahahah ... but but but they used a 1st rounder in 08 and 11, and they do have one pro bowler.....so that should be goo enough.

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Originally Posted by Zelezo Vlk

The Bears line needs to be upgraded? That's news to me.

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Originally Posted by motownbear

was this story from 2007?

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It's from the Daily-Herald guys. They still deliver by Pony Express.

I can't just keep posting Dline threads can I? Gotta create some editorial balance. :bah:

I still wouldn't mind seeing Spencer and Garza moved back to their traditional positions. I truly believe Garza at LG will help in the development in Carimi as the potential long term LT that the team has needed since Tait filled the role.

Spencer was one of the worse rated C in the league when he was with Seahawks and as a G rated out to be one of the worse G. Cant wait for his contract to expire

Garza at least actually upped his game at C rather then RG

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Originally Posted by motownbear

Spencer was one of the worse rated C in the league when he was with Seahawks and as a G rated out to be one of the worse G. Cant wait for his contract to expire

Garza at least actually upped his game at C rather then RG

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Yeah I think Spencer is not much more than a guy who was signed to fill the gap created when we didn't bring Olin back. He played OK at a journeyman level but of all the OG's he the one most easily replaceable.

They extended EWill so my guess is Tice sees potential in him and very possibly sees him as Garza's understudy to the OC gig in a couple of years. Louis should have no problem taking back his RG spot now that Carimi will be back but unless we leave CWill where he is we'll end up needing another OG on the roster.

The Bears moved Ricky Henry to the roster from the PS last year to protect him so we can probably assume they see some potential there but with those rookie OG crop as strong as it is I think it would be a mistake not to take one fairly early.

I guess there's always an outside chance that we take Glenn if all of our Dline prospects are taken but I see that as unlikely. So that leaves us with the guy quite a few of us have been clamoring for and that's Zeitler. Gotta have another Badger don't we? Despite the knock against his skills as a pass protector he's a rugged kid with a nasty side to him much like Carimi and he's projected to be able to handle OC as well as OG so he fits with that concept the Bears have of dual purpose Olineman. OT's who can move to OG and OG's who can move to OC.

If he falls far enough in two he could be a very good pick to us there. CWill, Spencer and Louis are all in their "contract years" and I'd be willing to bet one of them won't be asked back so even if the immediate need for an OG isn't there we'll have one soon enough to spend a pick on a good one. I'd bet Zeitler in the second and Jeff Allen in the third are guys the Bears are looking at.