Thread: Tice on LT issue: "I have trouble sleeping at night"

Originally Posted by 4th and 26

Do what Lovie Smith does and take some Nyquil, you will sleep like a baby.

I thought I'd die laughing when I read your post. Classic post!!!

Great LT's are one of the most difficult positions to draft if you can't spend a high 1st round pick on one (and even THEN it's not 100% in the bag that you get a sure thing).

Originally Posted by Riczaj01

Soul...question has to be asked when your OC is losing sleep b/c the OL is that bad. Sorry but it's true. Situational DE w/the 19th pick? I think we could have found one later, OT obviously couldn't have been found earlier.

But we did Ric find one later.....much later, this guy. It's gonna take a little time and effort to develop him but if Tice makes the same commitment to this kid as he did with Webb I think we may have a good LT on our hands.

Seriously, if I'm Mike Tice and CWill can't absolutely capture that LT spot by this weekend then I move him back to LG, start beating J'Webb's ass like he was a pack mule carrying a load of gold and then get James Brown all the coaching and reps I can afford to give him. I think he has the physical tools to be a LT and even as a rookie I doubt he could do worse than OMG and he may surprise. The "skinny" from camp is that he's looked pretty damn good. He just needs some experience and some great coaching and I think Tice can provide that. If this kid is "coachable" we may have a LT because sure as hell Webb isn't. He proves that every time he steps on the field.


JAMES BROWN OT, Troy
2011 GRADE: 5.8 D HT: 6-4 WT: 312



Possesses a longer, leaner frame with a little bubble to his lower half and good length. Has the ability to continue to fill out and get bigger. Needs some time as a prospect. Is really raw with his footwork, stands a bit upright into his stance, -plays only from a two point stance- and doesn't showcases any resemblance of a kick slide toward the edge. Looks content to simply slide shuffle to the corner and get narrow with his footwork, almost banging his feet together into the process. However, is a natural athlete with good range off the edge and can bend at the knees and keep his base down when trying to slide but lacks ideal anchor strength on contact because he will get upright on his punch. However, he can sink his hips and when he does stay low he extends his arms well demonstrating the ability to be a solid anchor player. Will also get stronger with time and play with better leverage as he learns the position. Is a long armed kid who can gain leverage as well. Nevertheless, too often keeps his hands down by his waist in pass protection and isn't real compact into contact. Generates some pop at the point, but this is an area he will improve with further development. Takes good angles into contact, is a patient kid who doesn't get caught lunging into contact much and showcase natural change of direction skill/fluidity when trying to re-direct off a counter and mirror laterally.

Possesses "plus" short area quickness off the snap in the run game, but again struggles with pad level into contact. Too often fails to generate any kind of leverage when trying to create a push and will fall off blocks quickly. Is at his best as a move guy when asked to get into blocks quickly, extend and seal on contact. Looks quick/coordinated on reach and slid down blocks as well. Routinely is able to stay engaged through contact on the move and get his feet around defenders in order to seal. Isn't overly heavy handed however, but that should improve as well, as he becomes more offensive tackle than athlete.

Impression: Has an intriguing skill set and the frame to get bigger. His body type says offensive tackle in the NFL to me and not guard. But he needs to physically get a bit bigger to play either spot. Looks like a higher upside/developmental guy who could be worth a mid round pick and if he's willing to put in the time could mature into a possible starter.


Shea McClellin will be more than just a situational rusher soon enough. He needs more weight and some coaching and reps playing the run before he'll be and every down LDE but for now we can live with him as just a rush guy as long as he does that well. Right now that's about all the Bears are asking of him. Rush, bring pressure, and disrupt. Most of the "tweeners" like him will be spot players this year and were drafted mainly as pass rushers. It's a passing league and that's what teams are drafting.

We'll find a way to get by with Webb at LT if we have to. We did it last year in the foolish offense of Martz's and we'll find some way to do it again this year if we have to. I think if you read between the lines Tice is probably more frustrated that his support for Webb and all of his efforts coaching him have failed to produce the expected results and he's just as much disappointed with that as he is worried about protection. Tice has been doing all he can and the kid still fucks up. That's really not Tice's fault but I sometimes wonder who's the bigger fool, Webb because he's blowing his shot or Tice for standing by him for two years.

Originally Posted by Riczaj01

lol I just heard that interview on ESPN. He didn't even mention Webb by name when talking about him, except once. The rest of the time he referred to him as "that other guy".

Ya but there were no better options out there then this crew?
Pitt has 2 rooks on their line right now, 1 is Decastro at G, the other is Mike Adams at LT...took them 1 and 2 in the draft. If our best option was a situational DE, maybe we should have traded down and picked up Adams in the late 1st early 2nd. He, even as a rookie couldn't be a worse option then Webb.

Just one follow up Ric. IF Emery could have landed Mincey then I doubt we'd have drafted McClellin where we did and maybe we take DeCastro instead so if that was the case I think you're right. DeCastro was definitely the top ranked "player" left on the board at #19. But Mike Adams in place of Jeffery I doubt.

Adams has yet to show that he can play LT in the NFL either and virtually every scouting report I read had him as strictly a RT in the pros at least to begin with. So if we take him we either take the same gamble we were already taking with Webb and CWill or we move a recovering Carimi over to LT and give him his shot too. Nah, I can't see that. De Castro yes, but Adams, no.