Thread: Stephen Paea Moving into Starting Role on Chicago Bears D-Line

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Offensive Line Drama Highlights Chicago Bears Training Camp Notebook – August 1, 2012

Aug 1st, 2012 at 10:34 pm by BoomerBears

Home » Bears » Offensive Line Drama Highlights Chicago Bears Training Camp Notebook – August 1, 2012
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Jul 26, 2012; Bourbonnais, IL, USA; Chicago Bears players walk to the practice field during the opening day of training camp at Olivet Nazarene University. Mandatory Credit: Bradley Leeb-US PRESSWIRE

Offensive line drama highlighted the sixth day of practice for the Chicago Bears. The biggest battle for a position up for grabs is the left tackle position. So far, last year’s starter J’Marcus Webb has been alternating with challenger and former first rounder Chris Williams. Wednesday, there was an unexpected change and drama ensued.
The rise of JWebb Nation?
Wednesday was supposed to be Chris Williams’ to run at left tackle with the first team offense, so it’s no surprise that the media would be buzzing when J’Marcus Webb manned the Left Tackle spot for the second straight day.
By all accounts, Webb has performed pretty well in camp. From what I’m hearing, it’s not really a physical issue with Webb, it’s all between the ears. If J’Webb can limit his mental mistakes, he has all the physical tools to be a serviceable left tackle in this league.
Swinging
It’s notable that the loser of the left tackle steel cage match will man the all-important swing tackle role. No sarcasm in that statement either. The swing tackle needs to be able to fill in for an injury (see Carimi last season) or if there are failures to execute (see Omiyale his whole Bears career).
It might speak to where the coaches think Chris Williams is in the pecking order if they’re trying him out at Right Tackle, making sure that he can get in the swing of things, so to speak. It also might just be that Carimi needed a little rest too.
A Dark Horse
If you thought that the battle for the starting Left Tackle was a tw0-horse race, guess again. A dark horse candidate has emerged in undrafted rookie James Brown. Brown has turned a few heads early in camp, holding his own in individual and team drills. Coaches had Brown running with the 2′s on Wednesday. It’s still early, but keep an eye on Brown when the preseason games start next week.
What do you think? Who will be the starting left tackle when the Bears kick off the season vs the Colts? Vote in our poll and post your thoughts in the Comments.

This is a pretty good site I found.

I agree OMC, I think he's the reason why we let Adams go.

Another article on Paea:


http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bear...tarting-nt-job
Paea appears poised to take starting NT job

August, 2, 2012 Aug 2
7:59
PM CT

By Jeff Dickerson | ESPNChicago.com

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BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- Stephen Paea appears to be the frontrunner to be the Chicago Bears' starting nose tackle after the 2011 second-round pick took every practice rep with the first team on Thursday.

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Bradley Leeb/US PresswireAfter suffering through injuries during much of his rookie season, Stephen Paea has impressed so far in camp.

Paea has been in competition with veteran Matt Toeaina, who up until Thursday had received the bulk of the work with the starters since practices began seven days ago.

"I can't be satisfied right now because I've still got games to play, and I need to prove I'm worth it for the job," Paea said. "The pressure is on me right now. I'm just trying to be a better me from last year. Tomorrow I'm just going to try and be a better me from today."

Paea has garnered positive feedback in camp from the coaching staff for his versatility, speed, strength and athleticism.

"As you can see he's been working with the ones for a reason, he's done some good things," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "Rushing the passer, he can play the nose, he has under-tackle tackle ability at the three-technique, and I think he's one of the strongest guys to come through the combine. He can do a lot of things. Second year, high draft pick, he should be ready to make a move."


Paea was banged up for much of his rookie season after he tore the lateral meniscus in his right knee the week of the 2011 Senior Bowl. The injury forced Paea to miss almost the entire NFL Combine, except for the bench press, where he did a record 49 reps at 225 pounds.

Health is no longer an issue, according to Paea, after he spent the offseason going through a rigorous training program.

"I'm in the best shape of my life before a season," Paea said. " [My knee] is way better. I can change direction, go left and right. Sometimes I forget I had a knee problem. I stay on my feet a lot and don't fall down because my right knee is weak, and you can't hold on to the double team and things like that."

The competition between the two defensive tackles was especially interesting because of the tight friendship Paea and Toeaina established off the field, due in some part to their Polynesian heritage. Even though Paea seems to have the upper hand on winning the starting job, the two remain close.

"Matt has been great to me," Paea said. "He came up to me yesterday and told me to keep grinding and that I'm doing great things. Coming from him, he's like a brother to me, and he's been my mentor for a long time. He helped me out. Even AA [Anthony Adams] helped me out last year. Now I'm into the job (and) now I've got to be a better me and keep improving every day. I'm watching film and things like that trying to improve my game and help the team. Me and Matt are cool. There is nothing between us and what is football is football, and what is our personal lives is just that."

Paea/Melton if they both take the next step could be huge for the Bears. But they both need to show game in game out that they can get pressure when they don't get sacks.

If James Brown continues to impress I hope he steals the swing tackle spot which would allow CWill to move back into G, even if it's in a backup compacity.

excellent news. Can't wait to see him play

Shorty and I have been saying it. Paea is going to be a stud. The guy is a tank and mawls people at the point of attack. I love this guy's style of play.