Thread: Cutler Has Never Looked More Comfortable................

Originally Posted by BigBadPapaBear

I think you should go and watch all the games during the 5 game win streak last year. They completely reigned in the Martz playbook during those 5 games and kept more guys in to block. It worked fantastic and they radically cut down the sacks. So yea play calling alone can make a line a more solid unit in pass protection. The Bears did it last year so it can be done.

I'm hoping you're right. Playcalling can help somewhat (and I saw the games and attend games at Soldier Field). I am an oline nut. I've watched over a half-century of Chicago Bears olines - My son teases me all the time about how I'm the only guy who watches the oline work in a game more than I watch the skill players To me, watching a great oline work is like watching "poetry in motion" and a thing of beauty. Smart, quick, powerful players working together with surgical precision. There's nothing like it.

Unfortunately we did have problems with the line that went beyond 7-step drop plays. Cutler understands this:

O-line still a concern for Cutler

LINK

"The offensive line is definitely going to be a concern,'' Cutler said Monday, "
Cutler said the uncertainty around the starters on the line is his major concern. He was asked if the switch from Mike Martz's complex offense to a different system under new offensive coordinator Mike Tice could alleviate pressure on the line.

"It helps,'' Cutler said. "It's not a cure-all by any means. They're still going to be asked to protect. There are going to be times it's third-and-8, it's third-and-10, we're going to have to take seven steps, we're going to have to have a longer route, and they're going to have to protect.''
.

I'm NOT saying the oline will be bad. I AM saying the jury is still out on the oline in general, and LT Webb in particular.

Our season will largely rest on how solid that oline is. Without decent protection, all the fancy toys we acquired this off season will be largely useless to Cutler if he's running for his life, or worse - if he gets injured because the line fails him.

Originally Posted by soulman

Right now I'm looking at it this way. In an offense that features 3 and 5 step drops rather 7 and by keeping more people in to block when going downfield, and the fact that they have an entire spring and summer of workouts together to get used to on another I can't see them being any worse. There has just got to be some improvement in their pass blocking over last year.

That's my feeling too. But we won't know for sure until the "real" games are played. Even the pre-season games are not really indicative of the actual season play. But I do agree it has to help. I think we'll be fine from LG to RT. If the LT position can be handled well by Webb or C. Williams then the season is probably going to be lights-out good. But if the LT is still a problem like last season then it's going to be ugly.

I'm still believing Webb may pan out and be the answer at LT. But who really knows at this point? No one. Not even Tice knows for certain how this will play out.

Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

That's my feeling too. But we won't know for sure until the "real" games are played. Even the pre-season games are not really indicative of the actual season play. But I do agree it has to help. I think we'll be fine from LG to RT. If the LT position can be handled well by Webb or C. Williams then the season is probably going to be lights-out good. But if the LT is still a problem like last season then it's going to be ugly.

I'm still believing Webb may pan out and be the answer at LT. But who really knows at this point? No one. Not even Tice knows for certain how this will play out.

I believe Tice already has it set in his mind who the LT of the future is going to be...and his initials are JW. Whether we like it or not.

Originally Posted by Dagan81

I believe Tice already has it set in his mind who the LT of the future is going to be...and his initials are JW. Whether we like it or not.

And I think Webb has one more year to prove himself capable of playing in the NFL. Two straight years of being honored as the worst pass blocker in the NFL doesn't look good on your resume.

If CWill beats him and he adapts to being a swing tackle fine. He'd probably be a good choice for that. But if he wins the competition in preseason and then fails in the regular season like he did last year I don't think he'll even finish the year out and he's likely to be handed his papers. He needs to show that he can keep improving. If he peaks anywhere near where he was at he's useless.

Originally Posted by Dagan81

I believe Tice already has it set in his mind who the LT of the future is going to be...and his initials are JW. Whether we like it or not.

Tice is certainly hoping Webb is the guy. He's invested a lot of development time, and playing time into making Webb the LT of the future. Now he'll see if Webb is going to actually perform at the level he envisioned. But Webb hasn't been "crowned" just yet. It's almost like our entire season's success is resting on the shoulders of a 7th round "project" left tackle. IF Cutler is given time to use the new toys, then we're one of the best teams in the NFL this year. IF Cutler is beaten, pummeled, or worse - injured - due to the LT being a turnstyle like last season.......then it's going to be another crap year for the Bears. No playoffs. And probably 3rd place in our NFC-N division. Meanwhile our defense ages one more year (Urlacher, Briggs, Peppers etc) with the Super Bowl window closing a bit more.

It's like a high-stakes poker game. We've "bet the farm" on this oline being "good enough" to not have to fix anything in the draft. With Webb it's like we're trying to fill an inside flush.

If Webb doesn't show he can handle the starting LT job, then Tice won't hesitate to go in a different direction. It's probably "sink or swim" this season for Webb.

Originally Posted by soulman

And I think Webb has one more year to prove himself capable of playing in the NFL. Two straight years of being honored as the worst pass blocker in the NFL doesn't look good on your resume.

If CWill beats him and he adapts to being a swing tackle fine. He'd probably be a good choice for that. But if he wins the competition in preseason and then fails in the regular season like he did last year I don't think he'll even finish the year out and he's likely to be handed his papers. He needs to show that he can keep improving. If he peaks anywhere near where he was at he's useless.

Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

Tice is certainly hoping Webb is the guy. He's invested a lot of development time, and playing time into making Webb the LT of the future. Now he'll see if Webb is going to actually perform at the level he envisioned. But Webb hasn't been "crowned" just yet. It's almost like our entire season's success is resting on the shoulders of a 7th round "project" left tackle. IF Cutler is given time to use the new toys, then we're one of the best teams in the NFL this year. IF Cutler is beaten, pummeled, or worse - injured - due to the LT being a turnstyle like last season.......then it's going to be another crap year for the Bears. No playoffs. And probably 3rd place in our NFC-N division. Meanwhile our defense ages one more year (Urlacher, Briggs, Peppers etc) with the Super Bowl window closing a bit more.

It's like a high-stakes poker game. We've "bet the farm" on this oline being "good enough" to not have to fix anything in the draft. With Webb it's like we're trying to fill an inside flush.

If Webb doesn't show he can handle the starting LT job, then Tice won't hesitate to go in a different direction. It's probably "sink or swim" this season for Webb.

I agree with both of you. Webb is at a crossroads in his career as a viable NFL tackle. He is, as you said, JustAnother, a "project" who has probably been played with almost to its limitation of whatever potential usefulness one can get out of him. I wish him the best of luck at winning the position, but my money is that Chris Williams is simply the smarter player who will play the position more intelligently and with better technique as a result of that higher intelligence. One thing I will be interested in is whether or not Williams is as prone to false starts, holding calls, and hands-in-the-face penalties that Webb is so prolific at. If he's not, that right there solves a lot of the Bears' problems at LT since that is the area, more than anything else, that frustrates me about Webb. It's like Webb doesn't get it or something.