Thread: Chicago Bears' roster projection: offensive line

From ESPN Chicago

LINK to the article
Left tackle remains Bears' biggest question

By Michael C. Wright & Jeff Dickerson | ESPNChicago.com

In advance of Bears' training camp, ESPNChicago.com's experts are taking a look at some of the key issues the team must confront in the coming weeks. First up? The uncertainty at left tackle where Chris Williams and J'Marcus Webb are expected to battle for the starting spot.
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Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesChris Williams will be moving back to left tackle for guard.



Michael C. Wright: Left tackle goes down as the area of highest concern in my book as the Bears get geared up for training camp. Although former offensive line coach Mike Tice -- now the offensive coordinator -- seemed reluctant to overly criticize Webb's play at left tackle in 2011, the fact is he simply wasn’t good enough. Obviously the rest of the NFL felt the same way, considering Bears quarterbacks -- according to “Football Outsiders” -- faced Big I blitzes on 13 percent of pass plays.


What’s more is that Webb committed an NFL-high 15 offensive penalties, and according to “Football Outsiders,” he ranked second in the league with 11 ½ blown blocks leading directly to sacks or offensive holding penalties.


So the club’s decision to give Webb competition for the starting job by moving Williams, a former first-round pick, over from guard comes as a welcome decision by the coaching staff. But the verdict is still out on Williams, who struggled somewhat at the position in 2010 before suffering a hamstring injury that eventually led to him moving to guard.


The fact the Bears plan to eliminate seven-step drops should help, along with the club placing an emphasis on pass protection as opposed to getting as many targets out into a route as possible.


From this vantage point, Williams will likely win the job over Webb during training camp. But until the club solidifies this position, quarterback Jay Cutler will never be able to fully realize his potential, regardless of how many top-notch weapons the Bears bring into the fold.


Jeff Dickerson: Most NFL starting jobs are determined long before teams report to training camp in late July. But the Bears appear to have a genuine competition on their hands at left tackle, where Williams and Webb are expected to split reps and fight for the position during the first few weeks of camp. At this point, it’s tough to say which player has the edge after an offseason program devoid of pads or real contact up front. However, the Bears must protect Cutler – sacked 115 times (including playoffs) since 2009 – better this coming season. It all starts at left tackle, the signature position of every offensive line.


Both Williams and Webb find themselves at a career crossroads. The Bears' first pick in the 2008 NFL draft (No. 14), Williams is entering the final year of his contract after spending time at both tackle and guard spots the past several seasons. Webb, a two-year starter, appears to have all the necessary size and athleticism to become a fixture on the line, but for whatever reason, he seems to lack true consistency.


Tice said repeatedly this offseason that the organization did not need to overhaul the line or go out of house to address left tackle in the draft or free agency. If either Williams or Webb steps up and solidifies left tackle, Tice will look like a genius. But if both falter on the left side, it could negate all the moves the Bears made at other positions to strengthen the offense.

Originally Posted by JJ-30

I for one will take average over the rating of poor over the past couple of years.

Yeah, as will I. Ya' just gotta believe that it can't be any worse JJ especially if the more experienced and more mentally prepared CWill wins the battle and even if he doesn't I think he will have pushed Webb into becoming a more solid player.

Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

I thought this might was interesting:

Good find 99. I think the guy did a great analysis. Well or course I do since I agree with him.

I give CWill the edge too. He's gotten bigger, stronger and more savvy since his rookie year and his run blocking has vastly improved. I think the author hits the nail on the head. Webb's mental errors were more costly last year than the physical ones. Tice can improve his technique but what about his football intelligence? That's Webb's biggest handicap.

I think CWill is ready for LT. He has more experience now, he's in his contract year so he has to be motivated to show he can play LT and he seems to have the football smarts for the job. You don't even get into Vanderbilt let alone graduate with a lack or brains and basic intelligence. We don't need to look any farther than the rest of the Vandy players past and present for the Bears. Cutler, Bennett, D.J., Hilly, all are or were good smart ball players who can get the job done and are dependable.

Chris Spencer at LG makes more sense than it would seem. If CWill won't be playing there we need to replace him with a guy mobile enough to pull to his right and lead block. Spencer actually did a nice job of that last year at RG. In fact he seemed to prove that he's a far better OG than he ever was an OC. He's nowhere near the finesse player that some tagged him with. He also pass blocked better than this writer gives him credit for. According to Pro Football Focus Spencer had zero sacks charged against him last year and I'd be that why Tice wants to move him over to LG. He's also in a contract year and if he hopes to be asked to stick around he'll need to have a very good year.

Garza did a hell of a good job at OC last year. He still needs to adjust better to picking up blitzes but his run blocking and his leadership on the line were both solid. The guys been playing without an ACL for years and he's tough and virtually indestructible so he should be good for at least another good year or two. EWill works as his understudy until Garza hangs it up.

Lance Louis is in his make of break contract year two. He has all kinds of potential to go along with his athleticism and strength but he needs to put it together and partner with Carimi to become a monster run blocking duo on the right side. His pass blocking looked OK at RT last year until he got up against some speed and then they blew him up. I think he'll be less exposed that way inside but if he loses his job to Rachal he won't get another shot. This will be his last year as a Bear.

Carimi is my boy. The way he handled Tuck last year tells me he still has the goods to play LT if either of the other two can't lock it down but this year he needs to stay at RT and get a year under his belt there. He really is one hell of a run blocker and he proved that at U of W. If Tice can leave him at RT forever he's a future Pro Bowler year in and year out.

J'Webb NEEDS to play swing tackle for a year or so. He's still just 23 and he's needs some growth and maturity before he can be trusted at LT. That's my opinion. He could use the opportunity to learn to play both sides of the ball well and as a result at age 24 or 25 he becomes a far more valuable player. Posed against this is the risk that he wins the LT and once again falls flat on his ass and finds himself off the Bears and possibly out of football entirely. If this kid can be as good as Tice believes he can be than for God's sake let's let him develop his game without the pressure of being Cutler's blindside protector.

Rachal may be the most likely candidate for the backup OG role going into camp but he's not a lock to get it. He was a very high 2nd round pick who never lived up to his promise in SF especially as a pass blocker. Maybe it was the system or maybe it was the lack of good coaching. Who knows? But he's pretty much in a last chance mode too. If he can't put it together and win an OG spot on the Bears roster I doubt anyone else will be interested in him.

Who's the competition for these guys? I'd say the rookie UDFA James Brown probably heads the list and if Rachal doesn't hack it in camp and preseason Brown may well get his roster spot. Ricky Henry is probably the other guy with a shot at a roster spot. They moved him up off the PS late last year to keep from losing him so the coaches must see some promise in him.

The rookie OT prospects or suspects as the case may be are Corey Brandon, A.J. Greene, and Tyler Hendrickson. Only Brandon's sounds like a football players name. The other two sound more like a NASCAR driver (Greene) and the next winner on American Idol (Hendrickson). I'm really not expecting a damn thing from these guys once camp is over. James Brown has a far better chance of being an OT alternate than any of these guys.

This is my read on things.

It's laughable that these writers keep saying Webb has the athleticism to be a starting LT . His footwork blows . He plays like he has a bungee cord wrapped around his knees . If Williams can't beat 'him' out, then chalk it up to over-blown hype on a Jerry Angelo draft pick. " First rounder " doesn't always mean first rounder . But ..... it is his contract year, and if that doesn't motivate him then what will ?

Originally Posted by BigBadPapaBear

I'm going to laugh so hard (or as hard as you can on the internet that is) when Webb holds down that LT spot. CWill hasn't played LT in 2 years. And that is a big deal when you aren't handling the pressure at LT. All that aside, CWill will have a spot in the starting lineup, even if its back at his LG spot. Nothing like having a 6'6 LG that can move.

But Webb hasn't even played it for one year. More like he occupied the space where the LT usually stands.


Tice says no. Whoever loses the battle becomes the swing tackle. Spencer has the nod at LG and Rachal is listed behind him on the depth chart. The problem with moving CWill back is that we have no vet backup OT now that OMG is gone.

Well, we really didn't have one then either but that's a story for another day right?

Originally Posted by BigBadPapaBear

I'm going to laugh so hard (or as hard as you can on the internet that is) when Webb holds down that LT spot. CWill hasn't played LT in 2 years. And that is a big deal when you aren't handling the pressure at LT. All that aside, CWill will have a spot in the starting lineup, even if its back at his LG spot. Nothing like having a 6'6 LG that can move.

I would rather have Webb at LT if he can improve his consistency. If not, then I agree with Soul, that Chris Williams should step in and let Webb mature as the swing tackle. But, it's really win/win either way. I'm not for or against either player. I just want ONE of them to step up bigtime for us this season.

The only thing I "don't get" (and I admit I'm slow here figuring it out) is IF we end up with C.Will on the bench, and Webb starting......well why would we put C.Will on the bench when at LG he was doing such a gre.at job there? In my simple mind - how could this EVER play out in a way, so that you have a guy gifted at LG (probably our best lineman last year, consistency-wise) ....so gifted that you consider him for your premier oline position THIS year (LT) and when the smoke clears you've got this guy warming the bench?

I mean. I just don't get that. Seriously guys, if you understand the reason for this happening, please help me here. It seems so stupid. I understand the logic IF you have a true starting LT in C.Will. But not if this means he's a scrub on the bench this season. Kind of dysfunctional team thinking......it's a head scratcher for me.