Day 4 - How Tice's offense uses TE's. "Polar opposite of Martz."

The part about the TE usage is very interesting. Good read too.

Quote:

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LINK to the article

Chicago Bears training camp notes: Day Four Wrap

Written by Brett Solesky | 29 July 2012

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The Bears wrapped up their second day in pads and fourth practice overall in Bourbannais on Sunday afternoon in front of another enthusiastic crowd.


Julius Peppers participated in individual drills but received a veteran's day off during seven on seven and 11 on 11 action.


On the day the offense did not execute very well in the passing game but there seemed to be a strong emphasis on the running game. The competition for the third RB spot is fierce as Armando Allen is definitely pushing Khalil Bell for that job. Allen is the player that Garrett Wolfe was supposed to be. Allen is very fast, hits the hole hard and can get good yards even if he finds just a crease.


Bell has struggled to hold onto the ball but didn't have a fumble on the day. If the Bears are looking for a change of pace back, Allen might be that player.


The Mike Tice offense is the polar opposite of the Martz offense. Tice's offense is a two tight end power attack that gets the TEs heavily involved in the passing game. If Tice goes four wide, he doesn't do it with the receivers he does it with a TE.


Tice will also stack two tight ends to one side and run to that side with strength to that side. This causes a major imbalance that the defense has to deal with with a safety in the box. This frees up the passing game and more one on one opportunities for Brandon Marshall.


The fact that the Bears force teams to deal with two TEs to one side of the formation really emphasizes how they want to open up the passing game.


Evan Rodriguez worked in with the ones a lot and appears to be putting it on film enough to earn a second TE spot. Kyle Adams as well is a threat in the passing game, he got a laser of a pass from Campbell right between the safeties and linebackers.


Kellen Davis as well caught a big pass in red-zone work from Cutler.


The offense put in a lot of their red zone work today but didn't have a lot of success against this defense.


Overall the defense put the clamps down throughout the day with big plays from Kelvin Hayden, Tim Jennings, and Jonathan Wilhite at corner. Numerous pass breaks and physical play by the corners today.


Shifting around on the defensive line Nate Collins is likely moving up to be the favorite to grab the fifth DT spot. The Bears carried five DTs with Anthony Adams and Okoye being the only departures from a year ago. Brian Price received his first real live action in practice today, still without pads on.


Price worked in all the drills he could do without pads, but will get into the rotation on Wednesday.


Back to Collins who impressed for the second day in a row. He is fast, strong and is taking to Rod Marinelli's coaching well. Marinelli is a pleasure to watch because of how intently focused he is on those defensive linemen.


If there is one concern right now it's with first round pick Shea McClellin. Right now McClellin simply looks over matched out there. He's not as fast off the edge as Thadeus Gibson and he's not as strong as the other four competitors in front of him.


It's way too early to push the panic button on McClellin and by most accounts today was a far worse day than yesterday. To be completely blunt about McClellin, he looks too small too weak and not fast enough. His explosion out of his stance is not at the level expected of an edge rusher.


During one on one pass rush drills McClellin earned more reps than any other defender on the field. He got pressure on only two of eight rushes to the QB. He struggled mightily against the offensive tackles. If a blocker gets their hands on him, they can easily push him off balance or engulf him completely. He has no real counter move to stop the blocker from stunting his speed rush. If an OT cheats up field, he's going to stop McClellin every time.


He can turn the corner using his speed, but he doesn't have that explosive first step that is evident with Thadeus Gibson who might be the most underrated player at camp this year.

I'm not here to rip on McClellin or even say he won't have an impact for the Bears. The fact is however he seems to have a long ways to go before he will be supplanting anyone as a starter.
This may be Corey Wootton's break out year, the year that everyone forgets the injuries that plagued him in his first two years. Wootton is both strong and fast and uses that combination well to create pressure. He really seems to be pushing for that third DE spot.

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Hey look at that, an article finally talking about the shortcomings of Bell. Amazing. I thought Allen showed some real flash last year as the 3rd down back and wouldn't mind keeping him. Clutts/Unga/Bell/Allen(any combo of them) were why I was suprised we went out and signed Bush. None are as proven, and probably not as good, but none are also as cheap, and all have potential to be solid.


Love that it looks like Tice is trying to create a modern O that uses the teams strengths. I know there is nothing wrong w/Speath but he will always remind me of Martz being here; bleh, so I really hope Evan keeps pushing him back.

If there is one concern right now it's with first round pick Shea McClellin. Right now McClellin simply looks over matched out there. He's not as fast off the edge as Thadeus Gibson and he's not as strong as the other four competitors in front of him.
During one on one pass rush drills McClellin earned more reps than any other defender on the field. He got pressure on only two of eight rushes to the QB. He struggled mightily against the offensive tackles. If a blocker gets their hands on him, they can easily push him off balance or engulf him completely. He has no real counter move to stop the blocker from stunting his speed rush. If an OT cheats up field, he's going to stop McClellin every time.


He can turn the corner using his speed, but he doesn't have that explosive first step that is evident with Thadeus Gibson who might be the most underrated player at camp this year.

I'm not here to rip on McClellin or even say he won't have an impact for the Bears. The fact is however he seems to have a long ways to go before he will be supplanting anyone as a starter.
This may be Corey Wootton's break out year, the year that everyone forgets the injuries that plagued him in his first two years. Wootton is both strong and fast and uses that combination well to create pressure. He really seems to be pushing for that third DE spot.

If we want a speed guy, seems Thadeus is winning that. Shea was never going to win a strength competition vs the Izzy. Still way to early, but things are not going well for the Emery first pick after the first week. We need this kid to step up and play like he was expected to.

Like hearing about Collins, we need someone to take that position by storm and own it.

Some positives coming along with this news.

I couldn't figure out why they picked up Armando Allen last year until I saw him carry the ball a few times. The kid is lightning quick and had a few nice runs last year coming from where he had a little space to maneuver but little blocking. If he can play ST well enough he may be a better choice as a 3rd back since he gives us a different style and dimension. If he and Unga both look good in camp and in the first couple of preseason games look for the Bears to release Bell and Detroit to pick him up. (one of my very rare predictions)

The Bears were very high on Collins when he came out of college so I'm not surprised they picked him up. If Price isn't still battling with physical or emotional issues I look for those two to battle it out for that 4th DT spot and if they both look that good we may keep both and carry a 5th DT. We still need competition in there to push Melton and Paea.

I'm not surprised Gibson is ahead of McClellin right now. He was a good college player who went undrafted because of his lack of size but the NFL is beginning to adapt to using 245-250lb DE's as pass rusher now far more than they did a few years back. How many though that Bruce Irvin (who's about Gibson's size) would go as high as he did. McClellin too. Gibson and the others also have a year on McClellin so they've been in camp and either played on the PS or had real game experience. It takes time to figure it out and maybe McClellin's struggles are coming from his hesitancy and a lot of rookies have that until the get it figured out.

If Gibson and Wootton outplay him I'd say that just leaves all that much better off. We're looking for pass rushers and we're expecting our 1st round pick to be a difference maker. So what if an UDFA and a 4th round pick are doing better right now. Who cares where it comes from just as long as it comes. McClellin is too good a ball player for it to stay that way long. He's got talent, a great motor, and a strong work ethic. He'll find his niche.

Love to hear how well Tice is incorporating the TE's again both in the running and the passing game. The thought of stacking Davis and Spaeth alongside of Carimi and running behind those guys has me smiling. That's some stud run blockers leading the way. Rodriguez seems to be having a good camp as well. Looks like he exactly what he was advertised to be.

It's early yet and at this stage the guys who have been through it before are gonna have an edge on those who haven't. Lets see how it stacks up a month from now.

McClellin is going to be great for us, but he looks like he needs a year or so in the NFL weight room. He looks like a college player next to the other dlinemen. Maybe part of that is his youthful "look" but I do think he's got a lot of potential to power-up his body. Did I read it correctly that the Bears want him around 255 or so? Man, in a jersey and without pads, he looks like a weakling next to Peppers.

Soul, I thought Allen deserved more time last year. I really hope he continues to push Bell. I really like Bell to, but he's lost some of his luster w/his hands issues. And I think Allen is a better option for change of Pace then Bell also. 2 1/2 3 qtrs of Forte and Bush wearing a D down would make a fresh Allen look really good for a few plays...and if he can play ST's that makes him even better.

Don't be surprised about Allen, he came from the finest program in the country: NOTRE DAME. :5_5_1[1]:

You know, I remember watching the draft and waiting ever so patiently on the Bears to draft Mercilus, Reiff, or DeCastro, only to hear the name "Shea McClellan" be flashed across the screen. While I know that it's way too early to be making these kinds of judgments on the kid, I can't help but be disappointed by the news that he's struggling. For some reason, I always get it stuck in my mind that if a player is drafted anywhere in the first round, he should be a difference maker immediately. That's what Emery and Co. thought, too, especially when our GM made the comment to Marinelli, "Here's your Monster of the Midway."

I'm not saying that "Big Mac" can't become a great player. Don't get me wrong. I'm just saying that I'm having to lower my expectations yet again. I hope we don't have a repeat of the various early round draft failures of Jerry Angelo all over again with Phil Emery. I want to trust that we won't, but I want verification first.